The flu season in Italy is heading into full swing with the number of confirmed cases last week double that of the previous week, according to the Higher Institute of Health (ISS).
In the week ending on December 30, the ISS reported, ''there were 3.07 cases of flu per 1,000 people, compared to 1.83 the week before''.
According to the ISS, the rate of 3.07 per 1,000 was slightly higher than the average of previous years for the same period.
Children below the age of four were the hardest hit by the flu, 6.07 cases per 1,000, while for youths in the 5-14 age bracket the rate was 4.59 per 1,000.
There were 3.13 cases of flu among people between the ages of 15 and 64, while in the over-65 group the rate was 1.33 cases per 1,000.
The flu season officially opened in Italy on December 12, when a case with this year's new strain was confirmed by the University of Parma.
This winter's influenza has been dubbed 'Pacific flu', after the area the strain originated kin. The name also refers to the flu's strength which is expected to be average.
University of Milan virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco said the 'Pacific' flu ''is a variant of the New Caledonia virus which circulated last year and thus those who caught the flu then should, in theory, be immune this year''.
Pregliasco went on to explain that ''influenza is a viral illness caused by a virus which provokes high fever, shivering, coughing, sore throat, head and muscle aches in most adults, while the elderly and the very young are also subject to intestinal disturbances''.
Real influenza, he added, ''must not be confused with the common cold which sometimes has the same flu symptoms''.
Pregliasco observed that the best way to treat 'real' flu was to rest and let it run its course.
Because there is no medicine which can cure the virus, he added, medicines should only be used to treat common flu and cold symptoms like fever, runny noses, stomach problems and aches.
These symptoms, Pregliasco explained, were in fact the reaction of the body's immune system to the flu virus.
Antibiotics, the expert warned, should be avoided because they are effective against bacterial infections and not against viral infections.
The only times when antibiotics should be used is when there are bacterial complications from flu, for example in the respiratory system.
Last winter's flu season was relatively light because of the unusually mild winter but this winter has been significantly colder.
A report presented in November at the 24th national congress of the Italian Society of Medicine predicted that this winter's influenza season will peak between January and February and that around three to five million people would catch the flu.
According to the health ministry, every year there are around 8,000 flu-related deaths and for this reason doctors recommend that people take flu shots, especially those in the risk categories.
These include the elderly and newborn, people with heart problems, diabetics and health sector employees.
