Flu, peak of infections in Livorno

The Australian variant of influenza (H3N2 virus) has led to a surge in infections in Livorno, Italy, impacting both adults and children. Massimo Angeletti, provincial secretary of the Italian Federation of General Practitioners (FIMMG) of Livorno and coordinator of the city’s family doctors, emphasised that the percentage of vaccinated individuals is lower than in the rest of the Tuscany region. Specifically, approximately 55% of individuals over 65 have received the vaccine, which is the age group for which the influenza vaccination is strongly recommended. This has resulted in a higher number of infected individuals and a slightly more severe form of the illness, albeit still mild. The outbreak peak has not yet been reached among the younger population, despite an increase in influenza cases following the Christmas holidays, as highlighted by Paolo Biasci, regional secretary of the Italian Federation of Paediatricians (FIMP). This is primarily due to the increased use of the nasal spray vaccine, recently introduced by the Tuscany Region. Experts advise against the use of antibiotics and recommend avoiding emergency room visits, except in emergency cases. Instead, they suggest relying on local medicine for supportive therapy, typically based on paracetamol and anti-inflammatories.