After three years of the covid pandemic, the inhabitants is now extra delicate and there’s extra circulation than in earlier seasons, says epidemiologist Ángela DomínguezNormally the flu season begins to realize power in December and reaches its peak in January, however this time It began in October and has been on the rise for 4 weeks. In case of signs, it is very important get well protecting measures: masks, distance, hand washing and satisfactory air flow, specialists recall
Is there a second wave of flu in Spain? It isn’t doable to talk of a brand new flood of infections, however that the infections have been fixed for the reason that starting of a season that began in October, says Ángela Domínguez, coordinator of the Working Group on Vaccination of the Spanish Society of Epidemiology (SEE ).
Since then, there have been no ceases to be circumstances of this illness that debuted with the predominance of influenza A, however is now experiencing a majority of infections with the B pressure. In common, B is normally milder than A, though It relies upon quite a bit on the traits and doable comorbidities of the contaminated folks, the specialists emphasize. That is why it’s so vital that susceptible folks get vaccinated, recollects Dr. Domínguez.
In many components of Spain, the incidence of flu doubles the epidemic threshold forecast for this season. In reality, on Wednesday, staff on the La Paz University Hospital, one of many predominant facilities within the Community of Madrid, registered a brand new criticism earlier than the responsibility decide to file the saturation within the Emergency Department, with sufferers within the corridors and absence of pros, in a context of elevated flu and the strike in Primary Care in Madrid.
An enduring season
“In Pediatrics we’re additionally seeing fairly just a few circumstances, however nothing out of the bizarre when it’s nonetheless chilly,” says the epidemiologist and pediatrician Quique Bassat. It is nothing extraordinary, says the specialist. Although Dr. Ángela Domínguez maintains that in all of the years that she has been monitoring the flu virus, she had not seen such an early and lengthy season. Normally, the specialist considers, flu exercise begins to realize power in December and reaches its peak in January, however this 2022-2023 season has seen a rise in circumstances already in October and since then The circulation of its totally different variations has not ceased.
Flu syndrome charges. Ministry of Health
Drop in covid and RSV infections, however rise in flu for the fourth consecutive week
According to the final revealed doc, similar to week six of 2023 (from February 6 to 12), the soundness of the incidence of covid-19 is maintained and there’s a lower in syncytial virus infections, however the state of affairs is totally different with the flu, the place there is a rise in exercise in Primary Care and a rise in hospital admissions.
In main care, the speed of influenza has elevated for the fourth consecutive week, related to a rise within the circulation of influenza B viruses. The highest charges of influenza are noticed in kids below 15 years of age. More circumstances, though fortuitously, no more severe, though it’s already recognized that the extra circumstances there are, the extra prospects exist that the medical photos are sophisticated, says Ángela Domínguez.
According to consultants, what is going on is the consequence of three years of pandemic. “With SARS-CoV-2, the flu virus had much less organic area and, on prime of that, non-pharmacological measures corresponding to masks, air flow, holding distance or hand washing additionally stopped its contagion,” says Domínguez. During the years of the covid pandemic, the immunity in opposition to the flu that’s acquired 12 months after 12 months has not been given, so the inhabitants is now extra delicate and there’s extra circulation than in earlier seasons. The flu is now gathering its immune debt. That is why it is vital, insists the coordinator of the Working Group on Vaccination of the SEE, that susceptible folks, both by age or by earlier pathologies, get a vaccine that includes the 4 variations of the virus that flow into: influenza A (H1N1 ), influenza A (H3N2), influenza B Victoria, influenza B Yamagata.
Who ought to get vaccinated in opposition to the flu?
A vaccine that, in keeping with the Ministry of Health, is indicated for the aged, ideally over 65 years of age, and particularly for:
People who dwell in closed establishments. People between 6 months and 65 years of age who current a excessive threat of problems derived from the flu because of presenting some underlying situation or illness. People who can unfold the flu to those that are at excessive threat of creating problems. Health and social well being personnel. People who work in important public companies.
In addition, within the subsequent season, 2023/2024, the flu vaccine may also be included within the childhood vaccination schedule for all kids from six months to 5 years of age. For the remainder of the inhabitants, the vaccine isn’t contraindicated, however its inoculation isn’t beneficial both, says Ángela Domínguez. In any case, what should not be forgotten, recollects the skilled, is that if there are signs of respiratory an infection, safety measures should be recovered to keep away from contagion: masks, distance, hand washing and satisfactory air flow of areas interiors.