Viruses such as stomach flu (norovirus), flu, covid, and VRS (a respiratory virus) are causing the collapse of services in Medical Centres in the Murcia region as doctors are seeing between 45 to 60 patients daily.
The symptoms of Norovirus are sudden episodes of diarrhea, vomiting and high temperatures which last between 24 to 72 hours. Doctors warn that antibiotics are not effective against viruses and advise patients to drink 2 to 3 litre of water a day, taken in small quantities. This virus is extremely contagious through contact with an infected surface, person or by consuming food washed in contaminated water or products such as seafood which feed by filtering water.
All these viruses are normally treated by GPs although they can be dangerous for small children, the elderly and vulnerable patients.
Although the increase in virus cases has ocurred later this year, not affecting the Christmas holidays, the emergency services have noted a sharp increase and are expecting a spike in the epidemic in the next few days.
Doctos advise that flu and Covid vaccinations will lessen the effects of these viruses although they don´t offer 100% protection.
Anyone with symptoms and/or the vulnerable should wear masks, particularly in medical centres and hospitals.
