Cardiologist Links Influenza to Nine Care Home Deaths

The influenza outbreak detected in a psychoneurological care home in Prokopyevsk could have caused dangerous consequences for the residents« lungs and cardiovascular system. With severe pathologies and untimely assistance, the virus can become the root cause of death, confirmed to NGS42.RU on Thursday, January 29, by Moscow cardiologist and functional diagnostics physician Andrey Kondrakhin.

The federal expert confirmed that influenza could have caused the conditions listed as causes of death for the nine care home residents. The acute viral disease leads to complications both on the heart and the brain, for example in the form of encephalopathy, and on the lungs — pneumonia.

Similar severe consequences occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. As with coronavirus, influenza is especially dangerous for the elderly, disabled, and children.

Meanwhile, for those vaccinated against the virus, the course of the illness is less severe, and the likelihood of complications, such as thromboembolism, decreases.

At the same time, the doctor notes that in people with chronic severe pathologies, influenza complications arise spontaneously and their danger cannot always be quickly assessed.

«Even with proper treatment, there are cases where influenza progresses completely differently and more severely than in others. Especially when there are physiological and anatomical changes,» explained the cardiologist.

Influenza, the specialist confirmed, quickly progresses from a mild form to moderate and severe if the illness is endured on one«s feet or in the cold.

Earlier, authorities in Kuzbass confirmed NGS42.RU«s information about the deceased residents of the care home where a mass outbreak of illness occurred. The commission identified nine death cases, with the youngest being 19 years old and the oldest 79.

Representatives of the Kuzbass Ministry of Social Protection claim that all the psychiatric patients died precisely from chronic conditions, and not from influenza or its consequences.

The care home staff previously reported to NGS42.RU that the mentally ill were kept in cold rooms despite employee complaints, and were also fed spoiled food.

Moreover, residents with high fever and signs of the virus allegedly began approaching staff as early as November, but director Elena Morozova did not seek hospital care, and no quarantine was imposed.