Beware of ‘hectic’ flu this season
WHEN Stormers coach Robbie Fleck said the ranks of his team were dramatically thinned by a “hectic strain of flu”, it prompted Netcare Travel Clinics and Medicross to say that the influenza vaccine still offered the best protection.
Dr Pete Vincent of the Netcare travel clinics and Medicross Tokai family medical and dental centre said although the flu season is just starting in South Africa, a number of people have already contracted it.
“The countries within the northern hemisphere, such as the US, have had a relatively severe 2017/2018 flu season. That is usually an indication that we may also have a bad flu season here in South Africa during our upcoming winter months.
“If you consider that flu-related complications result in the deaths of between a 6 000 to 11 000 South Africans every year, and thousands of economically productive hours are lost as a result of the illness, we would argue that every flu season is severe, particularly for those who are more at risk,” he added.
“All South Africans who want to protect themselves and their families this upcoming flu season, which is usually considered to run from April through to August, should consider having a flu shot.
“The influenza vaccine is still considered by healthcare authorities the world over, including our National Institute of Communicable Diseases, to offer individuals and communities the best protection available against influenza.
“For those who are at high risk of developing complications such as pneumonia, the vaccine should be mandatory,” Vincent said.
People who have contracted flu should refrain from engaging in sports, extended periods of strenuous physical activity and physical exercise until their doctor gives them the go-ahead, as the combination of flu and exercise can have serious long-term health consequences.”
The H3N2 influenza virus strain has proved particularly virulent in the US this year, and Vincent says this strain has been strongly associated with pneumonia.
“Bacterial pneumonia can be very dangerous for anyone, but is particularly so for high-risk individuals, such as the elderly, babies, small children, pregnant women and anyone else with a compromised immune system. Such individuals should also seriously consider having the pneumonia vaccine administered along with the flu shot.
“A new single-dose vaccine is available, which protects against the common streptococcus bacteria that causes pneumonia. This vaccine can provide many years of protection against this dangerous illness, and lifelong protection for those over the age of 60,” he said.
The flu vaccine is developed annually according to World Health Organisation recommendations, for both the southern and northern hemisphere flu seasons. The annual southern hemisphere vaccine, which is available to South Africans, usually provides protection from the three strains of flu virus identified as likely to be the most prevalent.
“It has been estimated that in South Africa 50% of flu-related deaths occur in the elderly and approximately 30% in people with HIV/Aids. This underscores how important it is to protect such at-risk groups of people in particular.
“The flu vaccine is safe and, while it does not always offer a complete safeguard against the illness, it does offers a good measure of protection,” Vincent said.