The Public Health Authority “Weqaya” explained that the cases of respiratory diseases and seasonal flu, as well as (Covid 19) are active with the advent of the winter season and the severity of its virulence varies from person to person, depending on immunity.
The authority expected it to increase in the next period, as everyone is at risk of infection, especially those who have not received the vaccine, noting that there is an increase in review cases in emergency rooms and emergency care centers in the whole Kingdom.
And it confirmed its ongoing monitoring of virus-causing mutations (Covid-19), indicating that the “Omicron BA5 and BA2” submutants are dominant in more than 75% of the positive samples and the “XBB” mutant was monitored in a limited number of positive samples.
Weqaya indicated that respiratory disease monitoring is done on an ongoing basis in the authority and includes identification of influenza strains in confirmed cases, as type B virus represents the currently common pattern in the Kingdom, followed by type A virus of H1N1 and H3N2 voltages.
He stressed the importance of supplementing the doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, the appropriate stimulant doses, and the seasonal dose of the flu vaccine, especially for those who have risk factors for complications, such as: the elderly and the chronically ill, with the importance of taking preventive measures against respiratory infections, represented by continually washing hands and wearing a mask in crowded places, as well as protecting others by applying home isolation in case of symptoms.
