“Swine flu epidemic to last 12 weeks”

Health expert Dr. Predrag Kon said that Serbia is currently at the beginning of a swine flu epidemic that is expected to last eight to 12 weeks. Branislav Tiodorovic, a member of the working group for the swine flu pandemic headed by Kon, said that everything that has occurred thus far has shown signs of a “moderate wave” of the flu epidemic. “Swine flu epidemic to last 12 weeks” Experts believe that there would be another two waves at least, and that the main wave of infection will occur in early February. “This situation was predicted by the working group in May and all teams of the health system were informed. They are all trained and ready to act according to the action pan,” Tiodorovic said. Kon said that the largest clinical centers in Serbia, located in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis and Kragujevac, are equipped for treating serious cases of the swine flu, because there are enough cadres and equipment in these facilities. “A purchase of added respirators is ongoing. According to the recommendations of the working group, Belgrade will receive 40 percent more respirators and the other three centers will have their number of respirators increased by 20 percent,” Kon said. He called on parents who recognize symptoms of respiratory infections in their children to contact a doctor immediately. "When a person notices exhaustion, a high temperature, cough, everything that reminds of the flu, there is a reason to be cautious. The critical moment is when breathing becomes difficult, and when the person notices that it is hard to breathe while talking,” he said. Experts are recommending that people receive vaccinations against the regular flu and increase their vitamin intake to strengthen immunity while the country waits for the swine flu vaccine to arrive, which is expected to occur in late 2009 or early 2010.

“Swine flu epidemic to last 12 weeks”

Experts believe that there would be another two waves at least, and that the main wave of infection will occur in early February.

“This situation was predicted by the working group in May and all teams of the health system were informed. They are all trained and ready to act according to the action pan,” Tiodorović said.

Kon said that the largest clinical centers in Serbia, located in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš and Kragujevac, are equipped for treating serious cases of the swine flu, because there are enough cadres and equipment in these facilities.

“A purchase of added respirators is ongoing. According to the recommendations of the working group, Belgrade will receive 40 percent more respirators and the other three centers will have their number of respirators increased by 20 percent,” Kon said.

He called on parents who recognize symptoms of respiratory infections in their children to contact a doctor immediately.

"When a person notices exhaustion, a high temperature, cough, everything that reminds of the flu, there is a reason to be cautious. The critical moment is when breathing becomes difficult, and when the person notices that it is hard to breathe while talking,” he said.

Experts are recommending that people receive vaccinations against the regular flu and increase their vitamin intake to strengthen immunity while the country waits for the swine flu vaccine to arrive, which is expected to occur in late 2009 or early 2010.