A public health alert on increased cases of Influenza in South Africa proclaimed

SOUTH AFRICA— After a spike in infected persons with Seasonal Influenza, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa, has officially sounded the alarm on the season-breaking numbers.

The 2023 influenza season started in week 17 (week starting 27 April 2023) when the influenza detection rate (3-week moving average) breached the seasonal threshold.

The increase in case numbers has been identified in all 6 provinces where surveillance is conducted.

As of the close of May 2023, the most detected subtype and lineage is influenza A (H3N2) i.e., 146 infected, from the 272 samples of influenza cases, a 55% representation of total sampled influenza cases.

This was followed by 116 infected with Influenza A (HINI) from the 272 samples with Influenza which is a 43% depiction of the total sampled influenza cases.

Finally, NICD indicated that influenza B Victoria had 3 people with the viral infection from the 272 total sampled influenza infections, which was 1% of the 272 sampled.

The increasing trend though observed from week 15 (starting 10 April 2023) from Influenza cases at sentinel influenza-like illness (ILI) and pneumonia surveillance sites.

Private laboratories have also detected increasing numbers of influenza cases, and NICD has received reports of influenza clusters in schools and workplaces.

Influenza A(H3N2), A(H1N1), and influenza B are common seasonal influenza strains in humans.

Influenza A(H1N1) which is sometimes incorrectly referred to as “swine flu” has been one of the circulating seasonal influenza strains following its emergence in 2009.

The health departments also update that most people with influenza will present with mild illness, influenza may cause severe illness, which may require hospitalization or cause death, especially in individuals who are at risk of getting severe influenza illness or complications.

Additionally, the groups at increased risk of severe illness or complications of influenza include pregnant women, people living with HIV, and people with chronic illnesses or conditions like diabetes and lung disease.

Also at high risk are people with tuberculosis, heart disease, renal disease, and obesity, the elderly (65 years and older), and children less than 2 years old.

These groups should be encouraged to seek medical help early.

The NICD encourages that despite the influenza season having started, the influenza vaccine remains the primary means for preventing seasonal influenza infection.

Ideally, the vaccine should be administered 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 have a high risk of severe influenza illness or complications.

To prevent contracting or spreading the influenza virus, the NICD is recommending certain measures be taken by the public.

Moreso, avoiding close contact with sick individuals, staying home when sick, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, regularly cleaning hands, avoiding touching the mouth, eyes, and nose, and cleaning and disinfecting commonly used surfaces.

Furthermore, clinicians should include influenza as a possible diagnosis when managing patients with respiratory illnesses.

What is seasonal influenza per se?

The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) notes that influenza outbreaks usually begin suddenly and occur mainly in the late fall and winter.

In South Africa, the onset starts from mid-April to the end of September and the disease spreads through communities creating an epidemic.

The NIAID observes that during the epidemic, the number of cases peaks in about 3 weeks and subsides after another 3 or 4 weeks.

Half of the population of a community may be affected because schools are an excellent place for flu viruses to attack and spread, families with school-age children have more infections than other families, with an average of one-third of the family members infected each year.

WHO notes that worldwide, these annual epidemics are estimated to result in about 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness and about 290 000 to 650 000 respiratory deaths.

Unfortunately, epidemics can result in high levels of worker/school absenteeism and productivity losses. Clinics and hospitals can be overwhelmed during peak illness periods.

Efforts from national bodies such as South Africa’s NICD and WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), in collaboration with other partners, monitor influenza activity globally.

Additionally, they recommend seasonal influenza vaccine compositions twice a year for the Northern and Southern Hemisphere influenza seasons.

They also guide countries in tropical and subtropical areas to choose vaccine formulations (Northern Hemisphere vs. Southern Hemisphere), to support decisions for the timing of vaccination campaigns, and to support Member States to develop prevention and control strategies.

For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.