Influenza death toll in Iran reaches 106
The head of the Communicable Diseases Control Department of the Ministry of Health announced that 106 people have died from influenza since the beginning of October.
Hossein Erfanian announced the news on Sunday, January 2, saying that last week, 3,354 people were hospitalized with respiratory diseases, of which 82 were infected with influenza.
According to the official, seven people have died from influenza in the past week.
The head of the Communicable Diseases Surveillance Department of the Ministry of Health added: "All deaths from influenza were in people who had underlying diseases, and even if someone among them did not have an underlying disease, the cause of death was delay in seeking medical attention, self-medication, and use of cortisone medication."
It was previously reported that more than 4,000 people with the disease have been hospitalized since the beginning of October.
Some media outlets had reported that, based on follow-ups and statements by the vice president of the Iranian Pharmacists Association, influenza vaccines are facing a "shortage" in various regions of the country, an issue that the Ministry of Health has denied.
The Ministry of Health also announced that the rate of influenza spread this year was "very severe" compared to previous years.
Source: Voice of America
