A flu epidemic is currently sweeping across Europe, and Belgium is no exception. This year’s flu virus variant is proving to be more contagious than the variants commonly seen in the past.
Flu epidemic: “Vaccines administered in Belgium are effective against the current virus variant”’
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In a recent interview with the Francophone public broadcaster RTBF, the virologist and Head of the public health science institute Sciensano, Steven Van Gucht (photo) said that the flu vaccine that has been administered in Belgium this autumn is proving effective against the flu virus variant that is in circulation this year.
Mr Van Gucht therefore advises the public, particularly those at a higher risk of suffering serious ill-effect if they catch the flu, to get themselves vaccinated. Data from the United Kingdom indicates that the vaccine is proving to be effective.
Professor Van Gucht expects the flu epidemic to reach epidemic status in Belgium sometime during the next 2 weeks. The reason for this is the higher risk of infection posed by the new virus variant that is in circulation. Belgian hospitals must therefore prepare earlier than usual for an increase in the number of flu patients.