Prilep, 16 December 2022 (MIA) — Viral respiratory diseases are filling the outpatient clinics in Prilep and family doctors have their hands full examining patients, both children and adults. The flu season, which has started unusually early, is yet to peak, and there is also a collision of viruses — the flu, SARS-CoV-2, and other respiratory viruses — according to local epidemiologists, MIA’s Prilep correspondent reports.

According to family doctor Renata Kerpichoska, the pressure on clinics has increased.

“In the last two weeks, we have had an influx of patients coming in with symptoms of colds and viral infections. Of course, we have not taken any swabs, but they are presenting with fever and coughing,” Kerpichoska said.

“We are seeing a rising number of adults and school children. The pressure on the clinics is high. Every day we see 30 to 40 patients with cold symptoms,” she said.

According to epidemiologist Tatjana Murgoska Stanimirovikj from Prilep's Center for Public Health, these symptoms are caused by several viruses.

“This winter, we have a collision of flu, Covid, and other acute viral respiratory infections. Understandably, in the previous two winters, due to the [protective] measures amid the Covid pandemic, we did not see the flu,” she told MIA’s correspondent.

“This year, the flu has started earlier. Usually we saw the first cases at the end of December or in late January and February, before the pandemic started.”

“So the flu season is yet to come,” the epidemiologist said, adding that preschools and schools were reporting increased numbers of children absent because of respiratory illnesses. mr/