Increase in Influenza Deaths in Iran; “Disease Peak to Decline”

The number of influenza victims in Iran has exceeded 80 people. Health Ministry officials are reporting a decline in the disease peak in the coming week, and citizens are concerned about their health.

Saeid Namaki, Iran’s Health Minister, said on Sunday, December 17 (December 8) that it is expected that within the next week, the peak of the influenza epidemic in some regions will decline.

According to Health Ministry officials, the prevalence of this disease is at a level that can be called an epidemic.

Mohammad Mehdi Goya, head of the Center for Management of Contagious Diseases at the Health Ministry, reported the deaths of at least 25 people in the past week. As a result, the death toll from this disease has reached 81 people.

Based on reports, the provinces of Qazvin, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Golestan, Semnan, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Tehran have had the highest rates of influenza prevalence.

Production of Influenza Drug Delayed by Two Months

Kianosh Jahanpour, spokesman for Iran’s Food and Drug Organization, announced the distribution of 700,000 capsules of oseltamivir by an Iranian company.

On Sunday, December 17, regarding the reasons for delays in distributing the influenza drug, he said: “A pharmaceutical manufacturing company was supposed to produce and release this drug on time and before the influenza epidemic began in the country, but this company claims that administrative and tax problems prevented timely production.”

According to Jahanpour, given the delays that occurred, the Food and Drug Organization issued permission for emergency imports of this drug, and approximately 1 million and 300,000 capsules of foreign oseltamivir (influenza drug) were imported into the country.

Public Concern Over Disease Spread

News of the spread of influenza and the deaths of dozens of people in Iran has created a wave of concern among citizens.

Some eyewitnesses in northern provinces of Iran told Deutsche Welle Farsi that fear of this disease has noticeably reduced public traffic and movement.

According to these citizens, some public programs and cultural and sports gatherings have been canceled, and movement across cities has decreased.

Discussion about this disease on social networks is also intense; from sharing disease symptoms and ways to prevent transmission to offering alternative treatments.

Source: DW