According to him, one of the main current problems is the difficulty in finding hospital beds. “Hospitals are already full in January, as is often the case at this time of year. The flu simply adds to this workload, even if fortunately, Covid remains little present for the moment.
gullThe optimal window for getting vaccinated is gradually decreasing.
“There is no specific message to send to the population,” he explains, emphasizing that despite prevention campaigns, many patients do not always follow the recommendations.
It must be said that since Covid, a new phenomenon has emerged: more and more patients are going to the emergency room for flu symptoms, where they would previously have consulted their general practitioner or opted for self-medication. This trend contributes to saturating emergency services with cases that could be treated on the front line.
“We must pray that there will not be another epidemic this month”: the flu is wreaking havoc in our hospitals, measures are expected
“The pressure is increasing and the peak is yet to come”
Faced with this situation, Yves Coppieters, Minister of Health in Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, calls on the population to first consult their general practitioner before going to the emergency room. The latter must in fact be reserved for serious cases in order to allow hospital teams to concentrate their efforts on the most vulnerable patients.
With this in mind, a letter was sent this morning by the AVIQ to all rest and care homes, coordinating doctors and general practitioners to remind them of good practices in prevention and case management. This includes the use of equipment such as oxyconcentrators and enhanced coordination with treating physicians to limit unnecessary hospitalizations.
gullFor the moment, we are managing, but it could become more complicated if other viruses were added to the flu.”
“The pressure on our hospitals is increasing, and the peak is yet to come. We can limit the impact by following these recommendations, to limit the spread and allow our healthcare staff to care for patients appropriately, he emphasizes.
If the flu and Covid vaccine remains an effective measure to limit serious complications (without avoiding contracting the disease), the optimal window for getting vaccinated is gradually decreasing. Regarding the use of a mask, without reaching the levels reached under Covid, wearing it is recommended if you have symptoms (cough, fever), in order to avoid spreading your microbes, and of course if you are in a situation of fragility and considered at risk, it is a necessary preventive measure“.
A contagious virus plays spoilsport: “We can expect a significant increase in the number of cases in the coming days”
Yves Maule also recalls how the shortage of staff and the lack of hospital beds are persistent problems, well beyond the current flu epidemic. “The situation has been tense in hospitals for months. There is no room for maneuver and staff remains understaffed. For now, we are managing, but it could become more complicated if other viruses are added to the flu. We experienced the wave of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), now it’s the flu. For emergencies, it’s a usual exercise in adaptation. But it is true that patients sometimes spend more time in emergency rooms when they are overloaded, which has repercussions on the entire system.
