Authorities warn of impeding flu epidemic

The Czech Republic is on the verge of a flu epidemic, the Health Ministry said on Monday. Some 30 people have been hospitalized with flu over the past seven days, five of whom have died, a spokeswoman for the ministry said. The country’s chief hygiene officer said an epidemic could break out in the coming days. The most common virus strains registered in the Czech Republic in recent days include the swine flu virus A(H1N1) as well as A(H3N2) and B. Around one million people contract flu each year.

Author: Jan Richter