Authorities launch campaign to fight flu

The flu bug has arrived in Majorca and the first case was confirmed in the second week of January. In fact, Son Dureta was the first hospital in Spain to confirm it. However, so far, it is not proving to be as virulent as in previous years. Josep Pomar, the Balearic director general of health, said that it was too early to talk of an epidemic. But even so, the Balearic health ministry and Insalud, the national health authority, have launched their first joint campaign to inform the population what to do if they think they have caught the flu. The campaign has the support and backing of the Balearic Society of Family and Community Health. The campaign starts this week and involves the distribution of posters and leaflets in chemists' and health centres, giving advice. The leaflets are designed to inform people of the symptoms of flu and steps to take as well as reduce the effects of flu. The chief symptoms are aches and pains in muscles and joints, sore throat, dry cough and high temperature.