A major influenza epidemic is affecting hundreds of thousands of persons in Europe and the US. News reports say there could be thousands of deaths in Europe. In the UK it is said to be the worse influenza epidemic in 10 years. In the UK, hospitals reported there were 200,000 persons hospitalized. In Italy, the influenza virus has affected over a million persons, with 250,000 new cases reported per week. In France, press reports say a million persons have caught the virus. The influenza outbreak has also taken a hold of the US Eastern Seaboard, where 99% of the cases are said to be of Type A, Sydney virus. This news is important for the DR because given the large number of people that travel to the DR from Europe and the US, it is only a matter of time before the virus comes South and affects those in the DR. Last year, the influenza virus affected thousands in the DR. The influenza virus primarily affects the weak and the elderly. (12 January 2000)
