Johannesburg, 9 June 2022: The influenza (flu) season is upon us in the Southern Hemisphere. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), in South Africa (SA) the 2022 flu season started in the week commencing 25 April – and numbers appear to have been increasing over the past few weeks.
A similar trend has been evident with data from Australia, where cases tripled from 25 April compared to the previous two weeks, and the numbers of cases and hospitalisations may continue to climb. It is reported in both Australia and SA that the 2022 flu season may be longer and more severe.
Flu is a respiratory tract infection caused by an influenza virus infection that can spread quickly, causing seasonal epidemics that may result in people becoming severely ill or even dying. Each year, flu causes up to 650 000 deaths worldwide, with the highest numbers in sub-Saharan Africa.
Annually, there are over 11 000 flu-related deaths in SA, and almost half of the close to 50 000 people experiencing severe flu may need to be hospitalised.
Flu viruses circulate at different times of the year, but in SA our seasonal flu usually has the most impact between May and September.
Dr Lourens Terblanche, Medical Head, Sanofi South Africa, says: “Right now, there appears to be a general increase in cases of flu both locally and abroad. Whilst non-pharmaceutical interventions like lockdowns, social distancing and mask wearing related to the COVID-19 pandemic afforded less opportunity for the influenza virus to circulate, the easing of these mandatory restrictions may facilitate a surge in flu cases.”
The World Health Organization and the NICD state that flu vaccination is the most effective way to prevent disease and reduce the risk of getting severely ill.
Says Dr Terblanche: “In SA, annual flu vaccination is recommended for individuals at high risk of complications or severe outcomes of influenza. The vaccine is however available for any individual from the age of 6 months to help prevent influenza infection.”
Groups targeted as high risk in the Department of Health’s 2022 flu vaccination campaign are healthcare workers, persons aged 65 or older, those with cardiovascular disease (including chronic heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and diabetes), chronic lung disease (including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and people living with HIV, as well as pregnant women.
“Even in the absence of specific comorbidities, it is important to recognise persons aged over 65 years or younger than 2 years as being at risk, as well as pregnant women too,” says Dr Terblanche.
The Director General of Health has indicated that the flu vaccine may now be given at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine, with each being given in a different arm.
It’s not too late to protect against flu through vaccinations. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or healthcare provider for more information about getting vaccinated against the flu this season.
This message is brough to you by Sanofi Pty Ltd.
References
1. National Institute for Communicable Diseases. Weekly respiratory pathogens report. Week 20 of 2022. Available at: WEEKLY RESPIRATORY PATHOGENS SURVEILLANCE REPORT WEEK – NICD Accessed 31 May 2022.
2. WHO. Bi-weekly influenza situation update, 18 May 2022. Available at: Microsoft Word – Influenza_20220518.docx (who.int) Accessed 31 May 2022.
3. Barker J. 25 May 2022. Flu season is here – get vaccinated asap. Available at Flu Season is Here – Get Vaccinated ASAP – In the Cove Accessed 31 May 2022.
4. Baleta A. South Africa can expect a more severe flu season this year than I 2021. Daily Maverick, 12 Apr 2022. Available at: SA can expect a more severe flu season than last year (dailymaverick.co.za) Accessed 31 May 2022.
5. WHO Africa. Influenza. Available at: https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/influenza Accessed 31 May 2022.
6. World Health Organization. Flu (Seasonal). Available from: https://www.who.int/newsroom/ fact-sheets/detail/flu-(seasonal). Accessed October 2019.
7. Wits Communications. (2021, 19 May). Who catches and transmits flu in SA and the implications for vaccination. Available from: https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/research-news/2021/2021-05/who-catches-and-transmits-flu-in-sa-and-the-implications-for-vaccination.html. Accessed 20 October 2021.
8. Blumberg L, Cohen C, Dawood H, et al. (2018). Flu NICD Recommendations for the diagnosis, prevention, management and public health response. Available from: http://www.nicd.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Flu-guidelines-rev_-23-April-2018.pdf. Accessed October 2019.
9. Director General of Health. Co-administration of COVID-19 and other vaccinations. National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Circular 3 of 2022, 20 February 2022.
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Article by: Mantis Communications
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