VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Admissions requiring inpatient care at Malta’s General Hospital rose sharply during the first week of January, exceeding levels recorded just two months earlier.
Around 570 patients required hospital beds in the first week of November, but this figure increased by more than 200 cases at the start of the new year. Health specialists attribute the rise to a surge in respiratory infections, including influenza, compounded by colder weather and large gatherings over the festive period.
The increase is placing significant pressure on healthcare services, with the hospital currently operating at full capacity.
Patients admitted with respiratory illnesses often require extended recovery periods, limiting the availability of beds and straining resources. Approximately 20% of recent admissions are directly linked to influenza, which can range from mild symptoms to severe complications such as pneumonia.
Doctors warned that individuals experiencing high fever or difficulty breathing should seek medical attention promptly to determine whether hospital treatment is needed.
A new strain of influenza is circulating this season, although experts say it is covered by the current flu vaccine. Despite this, vaccination uptake remains low. Vaccination rates among older adults stand at around 10%, far below the estimated 70% needed for effective protection, while uptake among younger people is estimated at just 1%.
Health authorities stressed that vaccination among younger and healthier individuals is vital to protect the elderly and other vulnerable groups. The public was also reminded that lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic remain relevant, as influenza spreads in a similar way.
– Photo Ospedale Mater Dei Malta –
(ITALPRESS).
