Odesa Region Reports 79 Schools Closed Amid Influenza Outbreak

In Odesa region, 79 schools have temporarily suspended classes due to the outbreak of influenza and ARVI, and 570 classes, covering 27,897 students, have been transferred to distance learning.

According to the press service of the Odesa Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, quarantine measures have been introduced in 13 kindergartens with 538 pupils.

This decision was made due to the rapid increase in the incidence: the intensive rate per 100,000 people reached 703.5, exceeding the epidemic threshold by 32.3%.

During the week, 16,464 people fell ill, an 11.3% increase compared to the previous week. The incidence among children increased by 8.8% and among adults by 16.4%.

374 people were hospitalized, 79% of whom were children. At the same time, the hospitalization rate decreased by 5%. The spread of influenza viruses was recorded in 21 regions of the country. Virological monitoring showed that among the biomaterial samples tested, 92% were positive for influenza virus: type A was 58% and type B was 42%.

The Ministry of Health predicts that the influenza virus will dominate the coronavirus infection until April. Since the beginning of the epidemic season, 3 deaths have been reported from flu complications and 3 from COVID-19.

Mykolaiv region is also on the verge of a flu epidemic.

Colds are often mistakenly called"flu," although there are significant differences between them, both in the course of the disease and in possible complications. The flu usually starts with a sudden fever, and respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, runny nose and sore throat appear later. COVID-19, on the other hand, starts with respiratory symptoms. The level of threat of these diseases, ways of protection and the need for self-isolation were discussed on the air ofIntent. Insight with Olena Kolodenko, director of the Primary Health Care Center No. 3 in Odesa.

Ірина Глухова