The Netherlands has been hit by a flu epidemic. A medical monitoring group confirmed on Thursday that the incidence of the disease has risen to 87 in 100,000, which is well above the epidemic threshold of 51 per 100,000.

Spokesman Carl Koppeschaar for the monitoring group emphasises that it is difficult to tell which proportion of these cases are instances of A(H1N1) or swine flu.

The group, which is made up of general practitioners, statisticians and biologists, says it is impossible to predict how long the epidemic in the Netherlands will last. Other European countries are showing similar rises, although the incidence of flu in Flanders (Belgium) is falling.
(rk/imm)

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