BUDAPEST, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A flu epidemic has been announced by Hungary's National Public Health Center (NNK). "Between January 7 and 13, 19,300 people - 75.6 percent more than in the previous week - turned to their doctors with symptoms of flu," NNK said here on Thursday.
"The majority of patients are young adults and laboratory tests show the influenza A virus to be dominant," the authority explained, adding that due to the increase in the number of flu cases, visiting hours in certain hospitals have been partially restricted in the capital and in the countryside.
42.6 percent of the patients with influenza symptoms are young adults, 19.7 percent are children, and 11 percent are over 60 years of age.
In order to avoid infection, authorities called on the Hungarian population to increase their vitamin D intake, wash hands frequently and eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
In case of an infection home rest is recommended, but if the symptoms do not improve, it is advisable to consult a doctor, the NNK statement said.
"The symptoms of influenza include high fever, pain in the limbs, headache and a bit later respiratory symptoms may follow. Its complications may be pneumonia, meningitis, heart failure, otitis media, asthma attack and kidney failure," the statement concluded.
Flu epidemics are fairly common in Hungary. Usually these last for a couple of weeks in January or February.
