This year's flu epidemic started slightly earlier than usual in Belgium. Patients are recommended to see general practitioners (GPs) first to avoid putting pressure on healthcare services, as some emergency rooms are already facing long waiting times.
The flu season began in Belgium in December, with rising numbers of weekly GP consultations for respiratory infections and confirmed lab tests for flu.
As expected, hospitals in the Belgian capital are currently busier than usual, particularly in emergency departments, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health.
Along with severe cases, emergency rooms are filling with patients with milder flu symptoms, the spokesperson for the hospital CHU Saint-Pierre, Nathalie Schaar, told The Brussels Times.
Waiting times
While in Brussels no disruptions to medical services have been noted, at a public hospital in Liège patients are facing waiting times of up to six hours, Le Soir reported on Tuesday. This is partly due to many patients with a common cold or flu going directly to hospitals rather than calling a GP.
"Many people do not have a regular or official general doctor and so they prefer to go to the emergency room instead [...] Even for minor things," said Frederic Pellissier, the spokesperson for Vivalis, which is in charge of improving health and social issues in Brussels.
"There are also many hospitals in Brussels. So it is easier to go to the emergency room instead of calling a doctor," Pellissier added.
Who you gonna call?
Both Pellissier and Schaar recommend calling a family doctor first if people are concerned about their flu symptoms. Doctors can then determine whether patients should go to a hospital.
For 'out of hours' periods such as nights, weekends or holidays, information about available GPs in Brussels can be found online.
People with flu are recommended to rest and take medication according to their symptoms. Moreover, they are advised to avoid contact with others in at risk groups, Schaar explains.
Since October, there has been a vaccination campaign in Belgium against the seasonal flu. Around 2.7 million flu vaccines are available for this flu season.
Schaar highlights that getting vaccinated is particularly important for those who are most vulnerable, due to age or health conditions for example. "The epidemic has just begun, and it is still worth [getting vaccinated]."
