Prague, Feb 19 (CTK) – A total of 33 people have died from flu since the beginning of its season until the end of last week, mostly the elderly over 65 with other serious diseases such as diabetes, obesity and heart problems, Czech Health Ministry spokeswoman Gabriela Stepanyova told journalists on Monday.
The flu epidemic was declared in the Czech Republic at the beginning of February. By the end of last week, there were 1944 ill per 100,000 population.
Last year, flu claimed 114 lives throughout the flu season.
“Due to the threat by flu, the population over 65 has the vaccination fully covered by the public health insurance,” Stepanyova said.
However, only some 5-6 percent of the Czech Republic’s population is vaccinated against flu annually. The rate is 20-30 percent among the elderly.
The European Commission recommends that it should be up to three-quarters of the population.
