Salvadoran physician and pulmonologist Manuel López explained that although in the first symptoms of the disease can be confused with other endemic diseases, there are differences with respect to a common flu.

The expert pointed out that this virus has the characteristic of being able to complicate, especially in children and older adults, with debilitating chronic diseases, although people between 30 and 50 years of age can also have complications.

López warned that the cases of influenza, instead of decreasing, are on the rise, and cited cases of schools where there are between 11 and 15 children diagnosed with the disease.

He also warned about the shortage of oseltamivir, the main antiviral prescribed to handle cases of influenza, which disappeared from most of the pharmacies in the country.

“Private pharmacies have run out of oseltamivir, the antiviral that we use to treat influenza and this somehow indicates the high consumption of this medication in both pediatric and adult age,” López pointed out.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that up to week 23, corresponding to June 8, there has been a significant increase in acute respiratory infections (ARI), totaling 779,471 cases for the whole year.

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