Sharp jump in number of flu cases

31/01/2013 00:00

Staff reporter THERE has been an alarming jump in the number of people suffering from flu over the past few days and the figures are starting to get very close to epidemic levels.

The latest figures from the IB-Salut health service show that the Balearics are registering 136 cases of flu per 100'000 inhabitants. Two hundred cases represent epidemic level and only ten days ago, the ratio was half the new figure at around 70 cases. The situation is much more serious than it was at the end of January last year and hospitals are operating at 90 percent capacity. IB-Salut maintains that it continues to have the situation under control but between the hours of 8am Monday and and 8am yesterday, Majorca's public hospitals dealt with 1'031 emergency cases - many patients suffering from 'flu.