Influenza H1N1 alert issued following recent spike in cases in SA

There has been a steady increase in the number of influenza H1N1 cases from August, with a sharp increase at the beginning of November, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Wednesday.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT IT INFLUENZA H1N1?

In addition, private laboratories have reported an increase in influenza case detections, and the NICD has received reports of clusters of cases in schools and workplaces.

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The NICD said influenza A(H3N2), influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, and influenza B are seasonal virus strains that are common in human populations.

“Influenza A(H3N2), influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza B are seasonal influenza virus strains that are common in human populations. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, which is sometimes incorrectly referred to as “swine flu”, has been one of the circulating seasonal influenza strains following its emergence in 2009,” NICD said.

It said the term “swine flu” should not be used as it causes unnecessary panic.

“The clinical course of infection with this influenza strain and clinical management is similar to that of other influenza strains,” it said.

The NICD said even though the detection rates for influenza in its surveillance programme exceeded previous seasonal thresholds, absolute numbers remained relatively low compared with previous years, possibly as a result of reduced health-seeking behaviour following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

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“Though most people with influenza will present with mild illness, influenza may cause severe illness which may require hospitalisation or cause death, especially in individuals who are at risk of severe influenza complications,” said Dr Sibongile Walaza, a medical epidemiologist at the Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis (CRDM) at the NICD.

WHO IS MOST AT RISK?

The NICD said groups at an increased risk of severe complications of influenza H1N1 include pregnant women, HIV-infected individuals, those with chronic illnesses or conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, tuberculosis, heart disease, renal disease, and obesity, those 65 years and older and children under the age of two years.

It cautioned that these groups should be encouraged to seek medical help early.

Prof Cheryl Cohen, Head of the CRDM said the increase in influenza in the summer, which is not the typical time for the influenza season, is likely the result of relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions to control COVID-19. Combined with an immunity gap due to influenza not circulating for two years (2020 and 2021) in South Africa

HOW TO PREVENT CONTRACTING OR SPREADING IT:

• avoid close contact with sick people,
• stay home when you are sick,
• cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing,
• wear your mask, clean your hands regularly,
• avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose
• clean and disinfect common places.

SYMPTOMS OF INFLUENZA H1N1:

• The most common symptoms in infected patients are sudden onset of:
• fever,
• muscle pains and body aches,
• dry cough,
• sore throat,
• runny nose,
• feeling tired or unwell,
• and headache.

The symptoms develop anywhere from 1 to 4 days after infection and last for 2 to 7 days. For the majority of people, the symptoms commonly resolve without treatment.
Complicated influenza infections can cause serious illness and in some cases, death.
Severely ill patients with influenza should be admitted to the hospital. The commonest complication of influenza is pneumonia.