Infectious diseases spike after storm Daniel hits

Health authorities are closely monitoring citizens’ visits to medical units in the areas affected by storm Daniel in order to detect and pre-empt potential outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Deputy Health Minister Eirini Agapidaki has reported that on Tuesday and Wednesday, 1,396 citizens visited 26 National Health System health units in the regional units of Larissa, Magnesia, Trikala and Karditsa for various health problems. Among them, 48 people were diagnosed with gastroenteritis and 65 with respiratory infections.

“Therefore, we have two cases of gastroenteritis and 41 respiratory infections more than [Tuesday],” she noted. Scientists have focused their attention on these two categories of diseases which may be related to the flooding.

In the coming week, health authorities are expected to have more data on mosquito circulation while scientists of the National Blood Donation Center have also been placed on alert.