Influenza A cost 3,880,000 euro + 13,000,000 euros(antivirals) in Andalusia in Spain 13/09/2010

Influenza A cost 3.8 million in Andalusia in Spain.
The incidence of H1N1 virus was similar to that of the common cold
KINGS CORNER - Sevilla - 13/09/2010
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A year ago at this time there was no conversation in which no influenza A. slinks The alert had jumped in April after the first cases detected in Mexico, but in September, with the start of the school and the arrival of autumn, when the Spanish government launched campaigns to prevent the arrival of the H1N1 virus and activated all plans that took months being designed. For the Ministry of Health in Andalusia, the bill came to 3.88 billion euros, to which we must add another 13 million spending on antivirals (oseltamivir), although these were disbursed in late 2006, coinciding with the alert called bird flu. Andalusia is made then to 1,695,000 treatments that finally helped to treat those affected by H1N1.

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Hospitalization and mortality from the disease were low
Vaccine left over 1.11 million valued at 7,700,000 euros
By comparing the numbers of influenza A with that of other flu seasons draws a conclusion: the H1N1 virus had an incidence similar to that of other years, but came out much more expensive. As the alert lasted 252,000 cases were recorded, 3% of the Andalusian population. Although last year the incidence of flu barely reached 1% of the population, the influenza A is similar or even lower than in previous winters.
Cases requiring hospitalization (2261) and H1N1 mortality rate (0.03%) can not be compared with other years because they never had recorded hospitalizations and deaths from flu, but experts say that the figures for both parameters are also "fairly low."
A year later it is clear that the alarm was overstated influenza, but at the time, the government chose to spend that fall short. "Today it is easy to see that it was not so bad, but then could not ignore what alerted the World Health Organization," said Soledad Ruiz, general secretary of Health and Participation of the Board. "Maybe the fault committed by the highest authorities was not to adapt the stage in September or October, when it was known in the Southern Cone the virus had not been as lethal as feared."
The panic had to be mitigated with an information campaign. Was distributed in September and again on the bridge in December. Amounted to 613,815 euros, an added expense that does not provide for the common flu this year and neither had been done in previous seasons.
Excessive heat also guided the purchase now seem excessive amounts of gowns and masks for patients, their families and health professionals. Its acquisition was tendered for a maximum of nearly 20 million, although the final amount was reduced to 1.55 billion euros, 1.2 to 32 million euros 326,992 disposable masks and gowns for 1.5 million.
The fear that citizens, at the slightest symptom, collapsing the hospital emergency also led to activate two measures accounted for an additional charge. The first was the high attendance plan, which is activated every year but the past was reinforced by the eventual hiring of personnel for the Andalusian Health Service, new telephone lines and overtime for call center operators of emergency coordination centers. In total, Health estimated at 1.16 million added cost of high attendance plan. Also strengthened the Health Service Responds to create new jobs telemarketers and phone lines and hiring nurses could prescribe prescriptions. The investment amounted to 547,634 euros, although it is one of the expenses which, according to Health, more profitability was removed. Between September and December 2009 the service handled nearly 80,000 requests for information about the flu and 77,496 appointments for vaccination in health centers. "It was a great relief. Prevents many people had to go to the emergency and provided the information you need to calm down," said Secretary of Public Health.
Besides spending is vaccines, which was conducted by the Ministry of Health with a commitment then you would be charged to autonomy. In Andalusia 1,387,400 doses were awarded, valued at 9,711,800 euros (seven euros each vaccine). In the end only 277,350 doses were made or what is the same: 1.11 million left over vaccine (valued at over 7.7 million euros) to Health has returned to Madrid to be destroyed. "The issue of vaccines is that I have left a sour taste," admits Ruiz. "He bought many, but is also not more than 20% of the population at risk were vaccinated. With the flu, get vaccinated always between 70% and 75% of the population at risk," said Secretary of Public Health. "It created a sort of mistrust, but it was a safe and very effective. If it had been vaccinated worldwide that would have been far fewer cases of flu."
Although the bill was expensive, the head of Public Health says the flu campaign left positive lessons, such as "peace" of knowing that the health system is prepared to respond to a major health alert or before a health problem collective work must be coordinated between all authorities and supported by the scientific community. "Last year was done and done well. That was a good shooting for all."