MANY OF those with underlying health conditions across Europe who are in at-risk groups for flu have still not been vaccinated, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
In its first risk assessment of the flu situation so far this season, it says it is still not too late to get the seasonal flu jab, which this year contains protection against swine flu and two other flu viruses, including influenza B. It urges all those in at-risk groups, including pregnant women, to get vaccinated.
“The circulating viruses have not as yet changed or mutated and it is expected that the seasonal vaccines will be effective in preventing disease,” the centre says.
There is evidence, it adds, suggesting significant protection against swine flu develops within a week of immunisation.
It also says both influenza B and swine flu are causing some severe disease and premature deaths across Europe, but preliminary data indicates 90 per cent of fatalities are due to swine flu or the H1N1 virus which was in circulation during the recent pandemic.
In the UK, it says, the number of people with severe disease has been considerably higher than during the pandemic and the reason for this is unclear but it may be due to more people being infected with bacterial infections at the same time as the flu virus.
There have also been a number of reports of resistance to Tamiflu, the drug used to treat swine flu, reported from the UK, it states.
Those most at risk of severe disease or death to date are adults under 65 years and children in clinical risk groups. “These constitute over 80 per cent of reported cases,” the centre’s report says.
“Severe disease also affects some pregnant women.
“There are also some previously entirely healthy people, who account for 20 per cent of the deaths in the UK, and higher percentages requiring higher level [intensive] hospital care in France.”
More than 1,700 people have been hospitalised so far with flu this season in eight European countries, including Ireland, the report adds.
As of last week six people had died from flu in the Republic so far this season, and five of these were as a result of swine flu. Updated figures will be provided later today both for fatalities and infection rates in the community, which had begun to fall last week.
The centre stresses this is an especially important flu season to be monitored as it is the first one after the pandemic.