The flu season is upon us, and a lot of viruses that disappeared during the peak of
Covid-19 as we observed all safety precautions, have returned and stabilised.
Professor Cheryl Cohen from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) reported that when interventions were relaxed following Covid-19, virus levels increased again.
“In fact, after Covid-19, the viruses circulated out of the winter season. What we see now since last year, is that these viruses have now stabilised. So we see a much more typical picture of what we used to see before Covid-19,” said Cohen.
The high number of people infected with flu is expected, as the influenza virus circulates during winter season every year, she said.
“There is no real concern about a more severe season. However, I will say that influenza is one of those viruses that changes a lot. It’s a bit like Covid-19 was in the beginning. It is constantly evolving and so sometimes we do have a more severe season. But it is hard to predict it this year,” she added.
Flu fatalities
Cohen revealed that the flu kills approximately 11,000 individuals in the country each year. This according to the respiratory disease surveillance. And she recommended flu vaccinations.
“In South Africa we estimate that about 11,000 people will die every year of influenza. And thousands of people will get admitted to hospital. Many of those people will never have a flu test. So they won’t know that they have flu because doctors do not necessarily test for the flu.
“It is important for people to get the flu vaccine now before the season. Particularly for people who have those high-risk conditions that put them at risk of hospitalisation. Or the risk of even dying, [in] older people and people with heart diseases. Also people with lung diseases, pregnant people and people living with HIV/TB,” Cohen said.
The vaccine is for protection, and is free
Cohen stated that the NICD is concerned about the attitude that people have on vaccines. This especially after the theories on Covid-19 vaccines.
“Issues around Covid-19 really hurt the public perceptions of these vaccines. We see it with the flu vaccine, that the outtake is lower now than it was before the pandemic.
“It is important that people do not confuse the different products because the flu vaccine has been around for many years. And it is well demonstrated to protect people.
“It is safe and effective. The flu vaccine is not supposed to make anyone sick. But obviously it is an injection, so a bit of pain at the side of the injection is expected.”
