The flu enters epidemic phase in the Balearic Islands

PalmThe flu has entered epidemic phase in the Balearic Islands, as announced this Thursday by the Minister of Health, Manuela García. The threshold for entering phase 1 of the epidemic, which the Islands are currently in, is 36 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and the Balearic Islands are registering 37.3. García highlighted that the epidemic phase has arrived four weeks earlier than usual, an unusual situation that has not occurred "for many years." However, the situation in the Islands is "similar to that of the rest of Spain." The variant currently circulating is AH1N1, and no cases of the K subvariant of the H3N2 virus, which is circulating in the rest of Spain, have yet been registered. As explained by the Balearic Islands Health Service (ARA Baleares), the forecast is that the peak of the epidemic The situation is expected to improve during the Christmas holidays. The scenario that begins this Thursday is Stage 1, according to the framework established with the Ministry of Health at the National Health Commission this week. In this stage, the Government's recommendations are: mask use by the general public with respiratory symptoms, especially in enclosed spaces and vulnerable environments; mask use by healthcare professionals; hand hygiene; ventilation of enclosed spaces; and social distancing. "Everything we learned with COVID-19 remains valid," García emphasized. Both the Minister and the Director General of Public Health, Antonia Elena Esteban, have called for vaccination, especially for healthcare professionals and those over 65. However, neither masks nor vaccination are mandatory, but rather recommendations from the Government (a "strong recommendation" for healthcare workers). Furthermore, if the epidemiological situation changes, the measures will be intensified. At this point, the possibility of eliminating appointments for vaccinations and allowing them at any time is being considered. Regarding the overlap between the flu and COVID-19, the presence of the coronavirus is minimal at the moment. "COVID-19 is no longer a seasonal virus. We usually have a peak in the summer. That doesn't mean it won't appear, but now it's at minimal levels," García said.