"Recent monitoring of outpatients shows that influenza cases have been decreasing in Guangzhou, while a slight increase has been seen in COVID-19." On April 23, Hu Dandan, Director of the Child Healthcare Clinic of the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, made the remark at the Guangdong Spring Seminar on Common Infectious Disease Prevention and Control held by Guangdong Preventive Medicine Association.
Data released by the World Health Organization shows a significant increase in flu cases worldwide during the 2022-2023 flu season, with a peak of over 70,000 new cases in December 2022, the highest in the past decade.
Meanwhile, there has been a surge in flu cases in China since the eighth week of this year, due to a significant decrease in the preexisting immunity to flu in the population during the COVID-19 pandemic, which makes people more susceptible.
"In Guangzhou, late March to early April sees the peak of influenza," Hu Dandan said, adding that in this year's flu wave, there were cases of acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) in children under five years of age. Most of the severe cases in this wave of influenza are children under five years old." Hu Dandan called for increased awareness of flu vaccination for children.
She recommended that children be vaccinated in October every year to get protection during the winter and spring flu season, while avoiding the possible summer flu.
She also advised those who did not receive the flu vaccine last October and have not been infected to get vaccinations, so as to prevent themselves from getting the flu in the summer.
Hu suggested that infants under six months old, who are at high risk for severe flu but cannot receive flu vaccinations due to regulations, should be cared for by vaccinated family members.
Given the recent increase in COVID-19 activity levels, she advised residents to maintain good hygiene habits, wear masks in crowded places, wash hands regularly, and keep the room well-ventilated.
According to Global Times, Li Tongzeng, Chief Physician in the Respiratory and Infectious Diseases Department at Beijing You'an Hospital, said that the risk of being reinfected with COVID-19 will increase, but most people who are infected a second time will have relatively milder symptoms. Thus, the blow of the second wave to the medical system will be less severe than last December.
Author | Hannah, Li Fuying (intern)
Editor | Wing, Nan, Monica, James
