Athens, Greece - Feb 15, 2019 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of signboards of Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP) at entrance
2. Posters introducing medical knowledge
3. Various of medical staff members working in lab
4. SOUNDBITE (Greek) Sotiris Tsiodras, associate professor of medicine and infectious diseases, HCDCP:
"When the epidemic breaks out, we suggest people to get vaccinations, even at the late stage of the epidemic. Not having vaccination means higher risk of flu infection, especially for high risk groups."
5. Various of pharmacy, people passing by
6. SOUNDBITE (Greek) Sotiris Tsiodras, associate professor of medicine and infectious diseases, HCDCP:
"We estimate that only 30 to 40 percent of susceptible population have got vaccination. And the inoculation proportion of our medical staff is quite low, reaching 30 to 35 percent at the most."
7. Various of hospitals in Greece

A total of 56 people across Greece have died from flu-related complications during the current flu season, Greece's Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP) said on Thursday.

A week ago, the death toll stood at 39. Currently 61 flu patients are under treatment in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), mostly children and senior citizens.

In their latest press statement, Greek experts reiterated the significance of vaccination for people belonging to population segments at higher risk of complications.

Eight out of ten of those who lost their lives so far had not been vaccinated although they had prior health problems, the statement said.

"When the epidemic breaks out, we suggest people to get vaccinations, even at the late stage of the epidemic. Not having vaccination means higher risk of flu infection, especially for high risk groups," said Sotiris Tsiodras, associate professor of medicine and infectious diseases with the HCDCP.

The Greek government has given out 50,000 vaccines to hospitals across the country, but Tsiodras is still concerned.

"We estimate that only 30 to 40 percent of susceptible population have got vaccination. And the inoculation proportion of our medical staff is quite low, reaching 30 to 35 percent at the most," he said.

The HCDCP epidemiologists expect the flu season in the country to end in April.

During the previous 2017-2018 flu season, the HCDCP recorded 42 fatalities, down from the total of 108 recorded in the 2016-2017 winter season.