季节性流感袭击中国北方地区

A new wave of flu is affecting most regions in North China. And hospitals are under pressure. Our reporter Ning Hong, in Hebei Province, visited some to see how doctors are handling the virus.

Hospitals are completely full, with many patients receiving treatment for the flu virus. Many of the sick are either very young or very old.

We have more patients recently. The number of outpatients has increased by half. Most have a fever. Some have even lost consciousness and have convulsive symptoms.

Doctors say seasonal flu is quite common in winter, yet the dry air this year has accelerated the spread of the virus.

The outbreak of flu is becoming more frequent and there are so many patients in the hospital. Although doctors are cautious using injections and antibiotics, it is still one the most effective ways.

Patients receiving drip medications are also increasing. Even though doctors have been told to reduce the use of antibiotics, they are still useful in many situations.

"Normally we don't use antibiotics on the common flu except for some patients with serious complications. But for infections in the lung, antibiotics are necessary," says He Zhizhong, pneumolody Dep't of the People's First Hospital of Shijiazhuang.

Doctors also warn that the overuse of antibiotics may cause drug resistance.