Flu Science | The highest proportion, the highest in the same period, and a high degree of matching (attached: Q&A nine-square grid picture)

Information from this week (Week 51)'s "National Acute Respiratory Infectious Diseases Sentinel Monitoring Situation (Week 51, 2024)" shows that the positive rate of influenza virus in influenza-like cases is very different from the trend of A-shares, and continues to advance rapidly !

Among the influenza-like cases in outpatient and emergency departments, the influenza virus positivity rate was 23.1% (ranked first) , accounting for 43.0% of all monitored respiratory pathogens, much higher than 8.8% in the 46th week.

Among hospitalized severe cases, the influenza virus positivity rate was 12.1% (ranked first) , accounting for 26.6% of all monitored respiratory pathogens, much higher than 5.2% in week 46.

In addition, information from the "China Influenza Monitoring Weekly Report, Issue 835, Week 50, 2024" shows that in the 51st week of 2024, a total of 156 influenza-like case outbreaks were reported nationwide, setting a new record for the 2024-2025 influenza season; and the number of outbreaks from the 46th week to the 50th week were: 13, 20, 31, 40 and 114 respectively.

Compared with the same period in previous years, the 51st week of 2024 also saw the highest number of outbreaks in the same period since the 2020 pandemic. Previously, the number of outbreaks in the 51st weeks of 2020-2023 were: 2, 131, 7, and 131, respectively.

Fortunately, 99.8% of the test results in China are type A, of which type A H1N1 accounts for 99.5% . Among the strains of type A H1N1, 92.6% are similar to A/Victoria/4897/2022, which means that most of the prevalent influenza viruses match the vaccine antigens !

Therefore, influenza vaccination can provide foreseeable and effective protection . Some people may have various questions about influenza and influenza vaccines . Let's answer them one by one:

Of course, it is not just influenza that needs attention, other pathogens also need attention. As the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends:

① The public is advised to maintain good respiratory hygiene habits , cover their mouth and nose with tissues or towels when coughing or sneezing; wash hands frequently and try to avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth with their hands; eat a balanced diet, exercise moderately, and get enough rest.

② If you have fever or respiratory infection symptoms, it is recommended to rest at home , wear a mask when contacting family members, and seek medical treatment in a timely manner depending on the situation; if you need to seek medical treatment, you must wear a mask throughout the process; if you need to take public transportation such as airplanes, trains, long-distance buses, ships, subways, and buses, you should also wear a mask .

③ People with relatively weak immunity (such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly, patients with chronic underlying diseases, etc.) should actively receive the latest vaccines to prevent respiratory infectious diseases, such as influenza vaccine , new coronavirus vaccine , pneumococcal vaccine , etc. according to the applicable conditions for vaccination. Especially as the recent influenza activity level has increased, people of appropriate age who have not been vaccinated with the influenza vaccine should receive the influenza vaccine as soon as possible .

I wish everyone can stay healthy and safe during this year's peak season for respiratory infectious diseases, and protect the health of themselves and their families in a scientific way.

Author: Shao Yinan

Member of China Science Writers Association, Science expert of Beijing Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Education Research Association

Top 100 Popular Science Account Operators in China

Co-author of the book series "Talking about Vaccines"

An ordinary industry person who is not very professional but has answered questions and refuted rumors tens of thousands of times in the past 10 years

willing

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Disclaimer: This article was created out of personal interest, only to help more ordinary people have a clearer understanding of vaccines. The content and views do not represent any organization, unit, or institution, and it has not accepted any form of sponsorship. All pictures are from public online platforms. If the content is incorrect, please do more self-criticism (not).