Flu 'spreads among children'

The incidence of flu in children is reported to be rising. Whereas until November 23 the most frequent cases were reported in the age category 16-28 years, now the school-age children are the main target as classes resumed, said Oleg Benes, the director of the National Preventive Medicine Center, at the epidemiological commission's meeting on Friday, Info-Prim Neo reports. “There is a shift of the incidence from older to younger ages. This was expected, because generally children are the worst affected by influenza”, the doctor said. He added that the educational institutions must pay increased attention to preventive measures, while the sanitary system must get prepared for a bigger workload. It was reported at the meeting that the locations worst hit by influenza are the municipality of Chisinau, with 4,414 cases, inducing 4 casualties, the districts of Ungheni, with 401 cases and one death, and Orhei, with 170 cases and one death. However, Health Minister Vladimir Hotineanu assured Moldova is not “on the verge of an epidemic” at this moment.