Over the new year, many Albanians have been struck by the flu, forcing the Ministry of Health to close all kindergartens and schools until next week. Official numbers of the number of infections are not yet available, although hospitals, especially outside Tirana, have a reported an increase in patients.
The specific strain of the influenza virus is called A(H3N2) and poses a specific risk to people above 65 and children under 5 years old. Symptoms are fever, head aches, muscle pains, and blockage and infection of the respiratory system.
A risk assessment published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control from December 24, 2016, already warned for its circulation and suggests vaccination for all people in risk categories.
The closure of the schools is also announced at a moment that an extraordinary wave of cold weather is expected to hit Albania over the weekend, with record lows of -13ºC on Friday and Saturday night in Tirana and close to -20ºC in the northern mountain regions. Many kindergartens and schools outside major cities are not equipped with proper heating, and sometimes even lack windows and doors.
