Health chiefs say a flu’ epidemic is sweeping Tenerife and the worst is not over yet.

Both hospitals in Santa Cruz are said to be seeing about 400 patients a day because of the cold snap the island has been experiencing. Administrators have admitted some operations had to be cancelled.   It is estimated that out of every 1,000 Canary residents, 200 will suffer influenza but this is still on a par with the Spanish average. The vaccination period has been extended from the usual December 31st to the end of March as the flu’ will peak in the next fortnight. Unions still insist the hospitals are at crisis levels.