2 children die of flu-related causes in Macedonia

Two children from the western part of Macedonia, aged 3 and 4, died as a result of symptoms related to the flu, health authorities said Thursday.

Both died in the intensive care unit at Pediatrics Clinic in Skopje.

Both children suffered brain inflammation and spasms caused by the flu and did not react to the antibiotic and anti-viral therapy they were given, the Institute for Public Health in Skopje revealed in its report.

"Although rare, the flu can cause some serious symptoms, such as brain inflammation," said Dr. Vladimir Mikic, an epidemiologist from the Institute for Public Health.

"From what we have seen this year, not only in Macedonia but in other countries in the region as well, the flu this season is causing some serious complications, especially in children," he said.

Over 8,000 people were registered in Macedonia as flu infected in the first week of 2017.

But health authorities fear the spread of the virus once the holiday break ends and students go back to school.

As a result, the Commission for Prevention of Contagious Diseases decided to prolong the winter school break for an additional five days. Instead of returning to school on Jan. 18 as scheduled, students will return on Jan. 23.

"This measure is something we really need at this point. We have seen a decrease in the number of new patients between the age of 0 to 14 years during the break and we want to keep up this trend," Macedonian health minister Nikola Todorov said.

Aside from this measure, the authorities ordered a thorough disinfection of all public transport buses. In the following days, kindergartens and schools will also be disinfected.

Traditionally, the peak of the flu virus in the country happens at the end of January and the first half of February. Endit