Pretoria – Although influenza “flu” is already circulating, the Department of Health insists “it is never too late to get vaccinated”.
The department on Saturday said it has been notified by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the increasing circulation of influenza around the country since the beginning of May 2023.
“Influenza vaccine remains the primary means for preventing seasonal influenza infection and should be administered at least before the influenza season (March to April),” the department said.
“The cases have been steadily increasing since week 15 (starting 10 April 2023) and the NICD has received reports of influenza clusters in schools and workplaces.”
Influenza, also known as “flu” is an acute respiratory illness caused by an infection of the respiratory tract with the influenza virus.
Two types of influenza viruses commonly infect humans namely A and B. The flu viruses are typically in circulation before the winter season in South Africa.
The virus spreads from person to person through inhalation of infected respiratory droplets when people are sneezing, coughing, or talking.
A person can also be infected by touching contaminated objects or surfaces that the flu virus is on and then touching their mouth, eyes, or nose.
People who are infected with influenza can prevent its spread by:
- covering their mouth when coughing with a tissue or coughing into the elbow;
- wearing a mask,
- washing their hands frequently with soap and water or cleaning their hands using an alcohol-based sanitiser;
- or staying at home and trying to keep a distance from others.
The department said this year’s influenza season started in the last week of April.
That was when the detection rate (3-week moving average) breached the seasonal threshold and remained on low activity for two consecutive weeks in the pneumonia surveillance programme.
“The increase in case numbers has been identified in six provinces KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and North West, where surveillance is conducted,” the department said.
Although the majority of people with influenza will present with mild illness, the department warned the disease may cause severe illness, which may require hospitalisation or cause death, especially in individuals who are at risk of getting severe influenza illness or complications.
The department said people at increased risk of severe health complications of influenza include: pregnant women, people living with conditions like HIV and other chronic illnesses or conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, tuberculosis, heart disease, renal disease, and obesity, the elderly (65 years and older) and children younger than two years old.
“These groups should be encouraged to seek medical help early,” the department said
The most common symptoms include fever, muscle pains and body aches, dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, feeling tired or unwell, and headache.
These may develop 1 to 4 days after infection and last for 2 to 7 days. For the majority of people, the symptoms commonly resolve without treatment.
The department said the influenza vaccine remains the primary means for preventing seasonal influenza infection and should be administered at least before the influenza season (March to April).
“However, even if the season has already started, it is never too late to get vaccinated, especially for individuals who are at high risk of severe influenza illness or complications,” the department said.
