Flu and flu-like disease rise nationwide

According to the Health Ministry, flu and flu-like diseases are at the “active level” in the country as of October 24.

Compared to the previous week, Govisumber, Dornogovi, Dundgovi and Umnugovi provinces have shifted from the seasonal level to the active level due to a higher prevalence of flu and flu-like diseases.

Influenza and SARS-CoV2 viruses were not identified, enteroviruses were detected in five samples (8.3 percent), bocavirus in two (3.3 percent), rhinovirus in one sample (1.6 percent) and respiratory syncytial virus in one sample (1.6 percent), according to the Health Ministry.

About 87.6 percent of influenza cases were recorded in children under 15, 60.3 percent of which were among children under four years of age. Compared to the previous week, the prevalence increased by 1.4 percent in the five to nine age group and decreased by 0.2 to 0.7 percent in other age groups.

About 91.4 percent of hospitalized patients are aged under 15, 78.9 percent of whom are under four years of age. Compared to the previous week, the number of hospitalized children aged under one decreased by 2.7 percent and the number of children aged one to nine increased by 4.3 percent.

Pregnant women who have reached their second trimester, people aged 65 and over, people with chronic diseases, health workers and staff of health organizations and immunization units under the Health Ministry are being vaccinated. Influenza immunization is available to citizens on a voluntary basis through the Immunization Cabinet No. 114 of the outpatient clinic at the National Center for Communicable Diseases.