|
Costa
Rica
Facing
Increase
In
"Flu"
Cases
The
number
of
people
attending
medical
centres
with
influenza
and
acute
respiratory
infections
is
higher
than
expected
by
health
authorities.
According
to
the
Caja
Costarricense
de
Seguro
Social
(CCSS)
the
behaviour
of
these
diseases
has
been
"unusual
in
recent
weeks".
Most
of
the
cases
are
in
the
provinces
of
Cartago
and
San
José.
Those
most
affected,
according
to
the
CCSS,
are
infants
under
one
year
of
age
and
teens
and
adults
between
15
and
39.
Up
to
January
28,
the
CCSS
reports
419
people
were
hospitalized
with
respiratory
complications.
Although
there
are
no
clear
figures,
the
increase
in
cases
include
AH3N2
and
AH1N1.
In
the
case
H1N1,
the
ministerio
de
Salud
reports
up
12
confirmed
cases.
In
January
Salud
reported
five
deaths
-
three
from
AH1N1,
one
from
the
seasonal
virus
and
a 73
year
old
woman
from
San
Carlos
with
Adenovirus,
which
infections
most
commonly
cause
illness
of
the
respiratory
system.
Seven
people
remain
hospitalized
to
control
the
progress
of
these
viral
conditions.
Due
the
increase
in
cases
the
Ministerio
de
Salud
and
the
CCSS
recommend
washing
hands
frequently
and
using
alcohol
gel
and
avoid
contact
with
sick
people. |
