TIRANA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Albania is on the brink of a flu epidemic with hospitals across the country registering around 11,000 patients affected by respiratory infections and flu in a week, the Institute of Public Health warned Monday.

Artan Simaku, an expert from the institute, told reporters that the virus was mainly affecting children and the elderly. He called for more care for children, pregnant women, elderly people with chronic diseases, and those with weak immunity.

Health experts have urged citizens to get the flu vaccine for protection against a number of viruses.