The 2022 World influenza conference (WIC) was held September 17-18 in Shenzhen. Experts at the meeting announced that, in winter and spring, there is a risk of superimposed epidemics of COVID-19, influenza, and other infectious respiratory diseases, which will increase the complexity and difficulty of influenza prevention and control.
The purpose of the conference was to build an advanced influenza prevention and control technology exchange and sharing platform, and to strengthen the cooperative research on influenza prevention and control strategies.
According to experts, the following five groups of people need to actively take measures to strengthen the response to influenza.
Children under 5, especially those under 2 years old have not yet developed a sound immune function, and their respiratory system is still in the growth and development stage. Having contracted influenza, it is easy to form severe illness and become a “core” of influenza transmission. Children can infect other children and their parents who come into contact with them.
Once the elderly get the flu, they are more likely to develop severe illness, causing cardiovascular and respiratory complications. The symptoms for elderly flu patients are often atypical, and they may not necessarily have typical flu symptoms such as high fever, general malaise, and chills.
During the flu season, if the elderly feel unwell or have a poor mental state, the possibility of influenza should be considered, especially for those who have a fever or cough, and should be taken to the hospital for examination and diagnosis as soon as possible.
Patients with chronic diseases or have chronic underlying diseases, if infected with influenza, the damage can be doubled. Chronic diseases mainly include asthma, COPD, coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes or liver and kidney dysfunction.
People suffering obesity, obesity is one of the important risk factors for poor prognosis of influenza, especially for adults. The overall prognosis of obese people is poor.
Influenza in pregnant women can cause adverse effects on mother and foetus, and even cause miscarriage or other serious complications.
According to the CDC, the risk of an influenza pandemic this autumn and winter cannot be ignored. In the past three years, public health measures to prevent COVID infections have reduced the risk of people infected with influenza, but also accumulated more susceptible groups.
Influenza vaccination is still one of the most effective means to prevent influenza. Before the arrival of the winter and spring flu season, people with medical conditions should be vaccinated as early as possible, especially the elderly, children, people with underlying diseases, medical workers, pregnant women and those who often work in crowded places.
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