Hungary officially declares H1N1 epidemic

The H1N1 flu has officially reached epidemic proportions in Hungary, as the number reporting symptoms of the virus in one week has rose above 20,000, national chief medical officer Ferenc Falus announced yesterday.

Some 22,000 residents reported symptoms to doctors in the past week, a 32% increase, and an estimated 30,000 people have the H1N1 virus. Falus recommends that employers not hold Miklósnap festivities around December 6, lest they help spread the illness.

The greatest number of cases were reported in Pest, Gy r, Heves and Szabolcs counties. There are sufficient supplies of vaccines in pharmacies, and supplies have also been delivered to hospitals.

Seven people have died with the virus to date in Hungary, and 170 are being treated in hospitals. An estimated 11% of Hungarians have been vaccinated.

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