Once Covid subsides, it’s time for InFluenza or the flu. In the past week, there have been reports of cumulative patient numbers of up to 216,600. Information from the Epidemiology Division of the Department of Disease Control says that the reason why a large number of Thai people are infected and sick. Part of it comes from not having immunity.
Dr. Chakkrath Pittayawonganon Director of the Epidemiology Division, Department of Disease Control, revealed the situation of influenza infection that At this time, the influenza infection situation is still worrisome and is not likely to decrease. From 1 Jan. – 23 Sep. There have been 216,600 cumulative cases, including 7 deaths, most of them elderly. “The reason why influenza still has a high morbidity rate comes from 3 factors: being in the rainy season outbreak, decreasing wearing of face masks. It’s not like in the past when there was a Covid outbreak. and the amount of concentration of influenza virus in the body that is higher than COVID Due to the consequences of past COVID infections People may have immunity to COVID. But there is no immunity to influenza. These matters are the natural competitive mechanism of the virus,” Dr. Chakrarat said.
Symptoms of influenza in the current outbreak include a high fever of 38 degrees Celsius and above, headache and body pain, chills, fatigue, nasal congestion, runny nose, dry cough and sore throat. In some cases, there may be abnormal respiratory symptoms, including bronchospasm. Inflammation, including otitis media and sinusitis Meningitis symptoms have also been found in some cases. Resulting in a lot of headaches.
The commonly circulating strains are strains A and B. The most common influenza A strains are H1N1, H3N2. The more common influenza B strains are the Victoria, Yamagata strains. As for the C strain, those infected often do not show symptoms. Thus preventing an outbreak from occurring.
Influenza is transmitted through breathing. Most of the time, patients get the virus that is mixed in the air when someone coughs or sneezes. Spread easily occurs in crowded areas such as schools or factories. It can also spread through contact with airborne droplets such as mucus, saliva, or phlegm of people who are sick with influenza. Including using hands to touch surfaces that have influenza virus. Then touch the nose and mouth as well. The incubation period for the disease is approximately 1-3 days, with adult patients being contagious as early as 1 day before symptoms develop. And can spread the virus for another 3-5 days, while the infection in children can spread for up to 7 days.
Groups at risk of infection Children under 5 years of age, elderly people over 65 years of age, people weighing more than 100 kilograms, women in the 2nd or 3rd stage of pregnancy or women 2 weeks after giving birth, immunocompromised patients. Have a congenital disease or have chronic diseases such as lung disease, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, and diabetes
current treatment Most used oseltamivir as their first drug. But in Japan, favipiravir is also used together. which in the country Thailand is waiting for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to register favipiravir as a drug on the national list of key drugs. And can be used to treat influenza, it can be used as a medicine.
There are many ways to prevent influenza, but the best thing right now is to get an annual influenza vaccination. Avoid meeting with people with influenza. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands. If you find yourself sick, you should wear a mask when in public and wash your hands with soap regularly.
As for the recent news that there is a shortage of medicine to treat influenza, Part of it comes from The number of patients infected with influenza is increasing. and people who want to take medicine to prevent disease, which is why the medicine may not be enough Oseltamivir is usually prescribed to people with severe symptoms or high fevers, or people with chronic medical conditions. People without symptoms can take favipiravir, which was originally used to treat COVID-19. or Andrographis paniculata Because it can treat viral infections as well.
2023-10-07 00:26:00
#Warning #Influenza #outbreak #causing #people #sick
