The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has notified the Department of Health of an increasing circulation of influenza around the country since the beginning of May.
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‘The cases have been steadily increasing since week 15 (starting 10 April) and the NICD has received reports of influenza clusters in schools and workplaces,’ said Foster Mohale, national spokesperson for the Department of Health.
Influenza is an acute respiratory illness caused by an infection of the respiratory tract with the influenza, also known as flu, virus.
‘There are two types of influenza viruses that commonly infect humans namely A and B. The flu viruses are typically in circulation before the winter season in South Africa,’ said Mohale.
‘The virus spreads from person to person through inhalation of infected respiratory droplets when people are sneezing, coughing or talking. A person can also be infected by touching contaminated objects or surfaces that the flu virus is on and then touching their mouth, eyes or nose.’
‘The 2023 influenza season started in the last week of April 2023 when the influenza detection rate breached the seasonal threshold and remained on low activity for two consecutive weeks in the pneumonia surveillance programme,’ said Mohale.
The spread of influenza can prevented by covering the mouth when coughing or coughing into the elbow; wearing a mask; washing hands frequently with soap and water or cleaning hands using an alcohol-based sanitiser. Infected people are urged to stay at home and trying to keep a distance from others.
Six provinces, namely KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and North West, where surveillance is conducted, have reported an increase in cases.
‘Although the majority of people with influenza will present with mild illness, influenza may cause severe illness, which may require hospitalisation or cause death, especially in individuals who are at risk of getting severe influenza illness or complications.’
‘People at increased risk of severe health complications of influenza include pregnant women, people living with conditions like HIV and other chronic illnesses or conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, tuberculosis, heart disease, renal disease and obesity, the elderly (65 years and older) and children younger than two years old,’ said Mohale.
People in the listed categories are advised to seek medical help early.
‘The most common symptoms include fever, muscle pains and body aches, dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, feeling tired or unwell and headache.’
‘These may develop one to four days after infection and last for two to seven days. For the majority of people, the symptoms commonly resolve without treatment,’ said Mohale.
Influenza vaccine remains the primary means for preventing seasonal influenza infection, and should be administered before the influenza season – around March to April.
‘However, even if the season has already started, it is never too late to get vaccinated, especially individuals who are high risk of severe influenza illness or complications,’ said Mohale.
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