Santo Domingo.– Faced with the increase in influenza cases in the country, doctor Félix Antonio Cruz Jiminián called on the population to reinforce prevention measures and act responsibly, warning that hospital emergencies are currently congested, with a high influx of patients presenting flu symptoms.
Among his main recommendations,
Cruz Jiminián emphasized the importance of boosting defenses, maintaining proper personal hygiene, drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding close contact with others when symptoms appear, and using a mask only if you are sick, changing it frequently. He also urged employers and educational centers to allow people with the flu to stay home for one or two days, in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
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The renowned doctor explained that influenza is an infectious viral disease, caused by different types of viruses, mainly viruses A and B, the latter being the one that has intensified in countries such as Europe, Puerto Rico and Cuba, and of which cases are already registered in the Dominican Republic. He indicated that this variant usually causes high fever, severe general malaise, intense muscle aches, cough and nasal congestion, affecting both children and adults.
Cruz Jiminián specified that, although influenza generates alarm in the population, it is a common seasonal disease during the months of December, January and February, a period in which an increase in cases is historically recorded. However, he warned that the risk does not lie directly in the virus, but in the fact that it weakens the body’s defenses, facilitating secondary bacterial infections such as pneumonia, which can be serious or fatal.
The doctor reiterated that self-medication, especially with antibiotics, poses a serious danger, as these medications do not fight viruses and their incorrect use can generate bacterial resistance and severe complications. He pointed out that, in mild cases, he only recommends acetaminophen for fever and some cold medicine, always under medical guidance.
Finally, the doctor insisted that collective awareness is key to reducing infections, recalling that we permanently coexist with viruses such as influenza and Covid-19, which is why prevention, personal care, and social responsibility remain the most effective tools for protecting public health.
