Comprehensive plans to combat influenza are in effect in 16 administrative units of the Vitebsk region

November 13, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Comprehensive plans of measures to combat influenza and acute respiratory viral infections continue to be implemented in 16 administrative units of the Vitebsk region, the Vitebsk Regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health informed a BELTA correspondent today. By the orders of the chief state sanitary doctors of the administrative territories, these comprehensive plans have been introduced to prevent the maximum spread of influenza and other acute respiratory diseases. Holidays have been extended in 159 general education schools, and the educational process has been suspended in another 195 schools. Thanks to the timely introduction of restrictive measures, less than half of those who contracted influenza and ARVI are children. According to the regional sanitary and epidemiological service, from November 1 to 13, 60,469 people were diagnosed with "influenza" and "ARVI" in the region, of whom 26,297, or 43.49%, are children. 1,511 people were hospitalized, including 841 children. From November 2 to 13, the virological laboratory examined 414 samples for viruses. Influenza A and B were detected in 39 samples, parainfluenza in one, and the remaining samples showed viral infections, including mixed ones. According to preliminary data for November 13, the epidemic threshold was exceeded in Vitebsk by 6.7 times, in Novopolotsk by 5.19 times, in Polotsk by 3.97 times, and in Orsha by 3.28 times. -0-