Flu epidemic in Belgrade and 3 districts in Serbia: Important appeal and ways to avoid the disease

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The seasonal flu epidemic in Serbia has been reported in the city of Belgrade and in three districts - Pirot, Macva and Zlatibor, Health Minister Zlatibor Loncar said today.

Speaking to TV Pink, Loncar said that this is a common situation for this time of year, adding that there are 20 percent less people with flu compared to last year.

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The reason, he explained, is the increasing number of vaccinated citizens, that reached about 300,000 people this season.

"This time we have less flu and more respiratory infections, because inoculation has produced results and we are on the right track to get more people vaccinated and realize how important it is, so we will continue in that direction," said Loncar.

He appealed especially on chronic patients to get vaccinated, as they are the most vulnerable, because their immune system is compromised and finds it harder to fight off viruses.

Some of the ways to avoid getting a cold, says Loncar, is to eat more regularly, take in more high-quality foods full of vitamins, get more sleep, wash hands more often and avoid socializing with people during the epidemic, but also avoid the environments with people who contracted the cold.

Speaking about coronavirus, Loncar said the World Health Organization (WHO) had done a good job raising awareness and outlining how countries can protect themselves and respond quickly in the event of the emergence of the virus.

Loncar pointed out that yesterday, WHO representatives visited the Ministry of Health and checked its work, and WHO's response has been, the minister said, that more than expected is being done in Serbia.

"Nobody can say whether or not coronavirus will appear in our country, it depends on many factors, we are doing everything we can to prevent it. Is that possible - I'm not sure, because we live at a time when you cannot close borders," said Loncar.

He stressed that the medical profession in Serbia is doing everything in its power, that all persons suspected of having contracted the virus are quarantined, that their their condition is monitored, as well as to the condition of the persons with whom they had been in contact.

Loncar stressed that the most important thing is not to cause panic, inform the public and not to abuse coronavirus for political purposes.

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(Telegraf.rs/ TV Pink/ Tanjug)