The country is experiencing its annual flu season with several flu strains currently doing rounds. According to the National Health Department, these flu strains, which started circulating in April, are causing severe health complications in some patients – and are often confused with COVID-19.
While recent data from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has shown that the number of flu cases is increasing rapidly, it is still within the expected range for a normal influenza season.
The most commonly detected and circulating influenza subtype and lineage are A(H1N1) pdm09 previously known as “swine flu” because it was causing disease in pigs. Influenza B/Victoria and influenza A(H3N2) is the second most common flu strain. This is not unusual as influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 has been circulating each season as one of the annual seasonal influenza strains since 2010. Influenza A virus is more severe in adults.
Influenza may cause severe illness leading to hospitalisation or in extreme cases, death, especially among those who are at risk of severe influenza or complications. According to the NICD surveillance data, the transmission and impact of the flu strains remain at a moderate level for both outpatient and hospitalised cases.
“High-risk groups include pregnant women, those living with HIV, and chronic conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, tuberculosis, heart disease, renal disease, and obesity, the elderly (aged≥ 65 years) and children <2 years old.”
While it is too late to get a flu shot now as influenza season is in full force, the Health Department has encouraged these vulnerable groups to get their shot if they have not done so yet. Ideally, the flu shot should be administered before the start of the influenza season because it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop following vaccination.
“Non-pharmaceutical interventions such as covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, enough ventilation, and regular handwashing with water and soap/sanitiser can help to minimise the spread of the disease.”
The influenza vaccine is available freely at public health clinics or at a cost from private healthcare providers and through pharmacies.
