Death toll from flu cases at 14, including an 8 year old girl

Fourteen people have died from Influenza in Cyprus this winter, among them an 8-year-old girl, who passed away at the Limassol General Hospital, after being treated in the Intensive Care Unit.

According to official data that CNA obtained from the Ministry of Health, the 8-year-old child was suffering from Influenza A and had no other health problems.

In total the hospitalized cases of Flu amount to 440, of which 274 concern children under 15 years of age.

The official data are for the period between December 26, 2022 to March 6, 2023.

More than 50% of cases are children under 15 years of age.

The median age in relation to the flu cases that have been hospitalized in the week of February 27 to March 6 is 8 years.

In statements to CNA, Valentinos Silvestros, Epidemiologist at the Ministry of Health, said that the vast majority of deaths have been recorded in Limassol, while three deaths out of 14 have been recorded in Larnaca.

He said that the 8-year-old girl was admitted to the Limassol General Hospital on February 15, 2023 and passed away ten days after, on February 25, 2023.

In addition, in January a 24-year-old died from Influenza A and a 37-year-old from Influenza B. Among the dead is a 48-year-old woman, as well as a 56-year-old man. The remaining nine dead were over 70 years old.

He also said that in the week between February 27 to March 6, 6% of total hospital admissions are for respiratory viruses, such as Influenza, RSV and COVID, adding that 3.34% of the 6% are admissions due to Influenza.

Concluding, he said that at the moment Influenza B is stronger in the community.

Meanwhile, Maria Koliou, Assistant Professor of Paediatrics and Infectious Diseases at the University of Cyprus Medical School told CNA that admissions of children to the Makarios Hospital have increased.

She also said that Influenza is an aggravating factor in respiratory infections and can potentially worsen other diseases.