On July 19, the Guangdong Provincial Health and Health Commission announced the provincial notifiable infectious disease epidemic in June 2022, and a total of 4 influenza deaths were reported in the province in June. The Health Times reporter found that according to the national epidemic situation of statutory infectious diseases from January to May published by the National Health Commission’s Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention, the number of reported deaths from influenza in the country from January to May was 7. In addition to the data from Guangdong in June, according to incomplete statistics, up to now, there have been 11 deaths from influenza nationwide. In recent days, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan and other provinces have successively issued influenza warnings.
=”640″>Monthly Reporter Health Times The national epidemic situation of notifiable infectious diseases is tabulated
Influenza-related reminders are issued in many places
On July 24, Zhou Jipu, chief physician of the respiratory department of Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, told the Health Times reporter: “Influenza It tends to be seasonal, most of which are self-limiting, with a high probability of self-healing, but may also cause serious complications, such as otitis media, pneumonia, myocarditis, etc., which can lead to death in serious cases, and have asthma and congenital heart disease. Children with underlying diseases and the elderly with underlying diseases such as diabetes and chronic heart failure are even more at risk and should not be taken lightly.”
“Recently, Fujian Province has entered a high season of influenza. Due to climate change and other reasons, fever in various parts of Fujian Province Outpatient patients, especially children, have increased significantly. Since June, the average daily outpatient number has risen from 15,000 to 33,000, which is affected by the epidemic of major infectious diseases such as influenza and the new crown pneumonia epidemic.” On June 22, Fujian Provincial Health The “Notice on Further Improving Medical Services for Fever Patients” issued by the Health Commission mentioned that all localities are required to optimize processes, provide scientific and accurate medical services, and coordinate epidemic prevention and control and medical service guarantees for fever outpatients.
Not only Fujian Province, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi and other places have also issued flu-related alerts one after another.
The prevalent strain is Type A H3N2
According to local reports, the prevalent strain of this influenza is Type A H3N2, which is caused by avian influenza virus. It was reassorted with the circulating human influenza virus at the time.
According to the alert for flu peak issued by “Jiangxi CDC” on June 17, the dominant strain of influenza has changed since mid-March this year. Converted to the current seasonal H3N2 subtype influenza virus strain, and the H3N2 subtype influenza virus strain has been relatively silent in the past two years, the immune level of the public is low, and this type of influenza strain is likely to cause the peak of the summer epidemic, resulting in this summer Seasonal H3N2 subtype influenza activity increased.
“Influenza virus is highly contagious and can cause a large number of cases every year, and the population is generally susceptible. Influenza has a rapid onset, although most of it is self-limiting, but some patients will develop complications such as pneumonia or aggravate underlying diseases. It develops into severe cases, causing respiratory failure and multiple organ failure, and even death.” Zhou Jipu said.
Zhou Jipu explained, “Influenza is often transmitted through the respiratory tract and contact. Even simple conversations, sneezing and coughing can lead to the spread of influenza, and general social distancing is not enough to isolate infection, so the whole population is generally susceptible to Infection, high incidence.”
Prevent the superimposed infection of the new crown and influenza
“At present, the new crown epidemic at home and abroad is still ongoing, and the risk of the superimposed epidemic of the new crown and influenza this year still exists. Once influenza and other respiratory infectious diseases become popular It will complicate the prevention and control of the new crown epidemic and may bring serious risks. Influenza vaccination is the most economical and effective means of preventing influenza, and can effectively reduce the disease burden caused by influenza infection, hospitalization, severe illness and death.” On June 21, Jiang Lina, a physician in charge of the Institute of Acute Infectious Disease Control of the Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said on the WeChat public account of “Guangxi Disease Control and Prevention”.
On June 21, Kang Min, director of the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said on the “Guangdong CDC” WeChat public account that under the current new crown pandemic, it is necessary to pay attention to the superimposed epidemic of influenza and new crown. risk. “The new crown and influenza are both respiratory infectious diseases, and the symptoms are similar, such as fever, cough, nasal congestion and other upper respiratory tract symptoms, which are difficult to identify in the early stage. Respiratory disease transmission and outbreaks, taking preventive measures against respiratory disease infection can achieve the effect of multi-disease prevention, which is also applicable to influenza and new crown prevention.”
Zhou Jipu reminded that although influenza is mostly self-limiting , but it can also develop into severe influenza. In the face of influenza, “prevention” is better than “cure”.
Currently, influenza vaccination (available to children over 6 months of age) is the most effective way to prevent influenza, which reduces the risk of contracting the flu virus and developing serious complications. Although there is no 100% guarantee that vaccination will prevent infection, it can indeed reduce the incidence of influenza and reduce the probability of severe illness and death after infection.
Jiang Lina reminded in the above article, “At the moment when the new crown vaccination is vigorously promoted, don’t ignore the influenza vaccination. The interval between two vaccinations should be greater than 14 days. Whether it is to prevent the flu or the new crown If you have pneumonia, you should maintain good personal hygiene habits, wear masks, wash your hands frequently, ventilate frequently, and try to avoid crowded places.”
(Source: Health Times)