Number Of Flu Cases In Romania Halved On Year In 2013
The number of flu cases in Romania fell 50% on the year in 2012 and most cases were registered by people aged 15 to 49, according to the country’s statistics institute INS, cited by Mediafax.
“During the previous season (2013-2014, e.n.), most flu cases were registered by people aged 15-49 – 47.4%, followed by people aged 0-1 – 17.3% and those aged 5-14 – 10.8%”, doctor Adriana Pistol, head of the Centre for the Control and Supervision of Transmissible Diseases within the National Public Health Institute, said at the conference “Influenza Awareness Campaign,” organized by Mediafax, at the initiative of OMS Romania.
Pistol said 230 cases of severe acute respiratory infections were registered during the previous season, 46% fewer compared to the 2012-2013 season which registered 428 cases. (Romania Libera)
Health Ministry To Buy Nearly Three Million Anti-Flu Vaccine Doses
Romania’s Health Ministry will purchase three million anti-flu vaccine doses in the first stage of vaccination that will start in the second half of November.
The ministry earmarked a total RON7 million in this respect.
“Flu is a big challenge because it is an important public health issue. Figures point to this direction. Millions of people, more specifically, three million per year, develop severe forms and a large number of people die, up to half a million worldwide,” state secretary Dorel Sandesc said the conference “Influenza Awareness Campaign,” organized by Mediafax. (Adevarul)
Transporters Say Government Failed To Pay Back Part Of Additional Fuel Excise
Road transporters said the government did not pay them back part of the additional fuel excise, although it had agreed with the measure.
They said they did not receive anything since the coming into effect of the normative act.
The Romanian government decided to pay back part of the additional fuel excise to transporters for a period of five years, until March 31, 2019. Refunds to transporters will cost the state budget RON353 million this year, the government estimated. (Curierul National)
Banks’ Interest Rates On New Loans And Deposits Rose In September
Commercial banks’ interest rates on new loans and deposits increased on the month in September 2014, for both lei and euro, except for interest rates on new euro-denominated deposits which saw a small decline, according to central bank data published Thursday.
Banks reduced interest rates on leu-denominated deposits by 0.07 percentage points, bringing their average to 2.81% per year in September 2014, compared to 2.88% per year in August.
Interest rates on new deposits rose from on average 2.2% per year In August, to 2.59% per year In September. Banks granted higher interests in September for new leu-denominated one to two-year household deposits, their average reaching 3.84%, compared to 2.67% in August. (Puterea)
Pork Producers Call For Six-Month Delay In Payment Of VAT On Meat
Pork producers in Romania asked authorities to postpone the payment of the value added tax on meat for six months and called for the lowering of the sales tax to 9% from the current 24%, arguing that farmers in the sector risk going bankrupt, said Alex Jurconi, head of PRO AGRO National Federation.
According to farmers in the sector, between August and October 2014, the prices paid to farmers fell 25% and losses against production costs reached nearly RON136/delivered animal last week. Although swine breeders in Romania do not have direct contracts with Russia, the embargo on pork coming from EU countries indirectly impacts the pork market in Romania. (Adevarul)
Ponta And Iohannis Favored To Reach Nov. 16 Presidential Election Runoff
Social democrat head and Prime Minister Victor Ponta and Klaus Iohannis, representing the Christian Liberal Alliance, are favored to reach the second round of Romania’s presidential elections due November 16.
According to the Interior Ministry, over 18,000.000 Romanians are entitled to vote and over 8 million people must cast their votes in order to elect a president in the first round of elections. (Adevarul)