BUCHAREST, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The number of people died of influenza reached 54 in Romania on Tuesday, as the National Center for Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control announced six new deaths.
The last six victims were confirmed with influenza A virus. None of them have been vaccinated against the flu and all the six had pre-existing medical conditions.
In fact, according to official data, none of the 54 fatal patients so far had been vaccinated, and most of them had other complications as well. Only 5-6 people died because of the single cause of the flu.
The health authorities announced a total of 20 deaths on Jan. 20 and the death toll has increased by one and a half times in ten days. With the rapid increase in the number of deaths, especially the increase in the number of influenza infections, it is expected that the Health Ministry is to officially declare the flu epidemic in the shortest possible time.
However, Health Minister Pintea has called on people not to panic. "After all, I do not think we have to make a hysteria out of this, it is a disease that circulates seasonally during the winter," she added.
According to her, even if the epidemic is announced, no new measures will be taken, as the authorities are acting at the moment as in the case of an epidemic.
One of the most important criteria set by the World Health Organization is having at least 1,500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and the health minister said she is waiting for relevant data compiled nationwide.
Medical experts said again that it is not too late to get a flu vaccine to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. They also recommend that people stay at home and not go to work or school if ill.
In the 2017-2018 flu season, over 100 people died of influenza in Romania.
