Inoculation centers for the H1N1 virus to close next month

The inoculation centres for vaccines against the H1N1 virus have few visitors these days, but will remain open until February 4, the cabinet decided on Wednesday.

Health Minister Tamás Székely told reporters that 94 deaths in Hungary are linked to the virus. Last week, 14,200 people with flu symptoms visited doctors, a 9% drop from the previous week and less than the 20,000 weekly which defines an epidemic.

If there were European championships for defence against influenza, Hungary would certainly be a medal-winner, Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai told a meeting of the National Epidemiology Centre and the State Medical Office on Wednesday. Bajnai said he would like to present an imaginary medal to the groups for their achievement.

Meanwhile, a 33-year-old man infected with the H1N1 virus who was on a respirator died in Debrecen on Wednesday. He had not been inoculated against the virus. Two adults and a child remain on respirators in the intensive care unit of the same hospital.

Another wave of influenza, both the conventional and the H1N1 virus, could arrive later this month and last until March, national head doctor Ferenc Falus told reporters.

• Email
• Save to My Caboodle