San José, Costa Rica. Enero, 2016.

Over the last few weeks, we have experienced a “state of alert” in the country due to the AH1N1 virus. The current presentation of the flu has been very particular given that it appears in a season when it did not normally appear before.

According to Dr. Jorge Cortés Rodríguez, Medical Director of the Clínica Bíblica Hospital, according to that established in the epidemiological protocols, the territorial distribution of the disease should be defined first of all since it can “be a local phenomenon” (for examples the cases that have appeared in San Carlos), and that this may require specific and local contention measures or else it could be a problem of greater territorial distribution such as national or international, and the measures that should be adopted by the health authorities are going to depend on this.”

Historically, the population has the notion that “it should be alert” before these situations without this meaning overreacting. Fear, panic and conditions that generate irrational attitudes are not only undesirable but may cause more damage than benefits.

In this case, what we wish to emphasize is asking the population to be alert and to carry out the basic measures of hygiene every day.

The recommendation for groups in risk, under normal conditions, is to have a vaccine every year. That indication persists. It should be known that the vaccine does not “protect” one immediately but that its “protecting effect” begins until the second week, but if the prevention measures are added to the vaccination, we can say with certainty that we are doing the right thing.

In order to obtain further information or to request an appointment in any of the medical specialties with the best doctors of Costa Rica, please contact the private hospital Clínica Bíblica at telephone number 2522-1000, at email citas@clinicabiblica.com or vía chat on the website www.clinicabiblica.com