Italy's unusually mild winter has delayed the arrival of the flu season, but doctors have warned that it is just a matter of time before the epidemic hits.
According to University of Milan virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco, flu will sweep through Italy as soon the temperatures finally drop, some time later this month.
"We are still on the starting block. There have been some reported cases, mostly among very young children, especially in the north.
This year's influenza has been dubbed the 'American flu', which Pregliasco said was "primarily based on the Wisconsin type A virus (H3N2) with strains of the New Caledonia A (H1N1) and Malaysia B viruses".
Pregliasco predicted that some six million Italians will be in bed with the flu, about 12% of the population, compared to 2.5 million last year, which was considered a mild year.
Another five million Italians are expected to catch viruses which will produce conditions similar to the flu but with the main difference that any fever will be lower than for 'real' flu.
Pregliasco observed that the best way to treat 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 the 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.
While flu shots are helpful to avoid catching the flu, and are recommended for the elderly and children with respiratory problems, they do not offer 100% protection from the virus, Pregliasco said.
Turning his attention to ongoing efforts in Britain and Switzerland to create a universal flu vaccine, the Milan virologist explained that "such a vaccine would target the strain common to all viruses".
"We are presently only in stage two of the clinical phase but if the first result are confirmed it would be a solution to the flu problem," he added.
According to reports in the British press, a future universal flu vaccine would be effect against all kinds of viruses, including dangerous mutations, and require booster shots every five or ten years.
