Wet weather increases the risk of flu outbreaks

The humid winter-spring weather in Vietnam is becoming a worrying factor for public health, especially for the outbreak of respiratory diseases, of which flu is a potential threat during this time.

According to experts, humid weather and sudden changes in temperature create favorable conditions for the flu virus to develop and spread.

During the humid winter-spring season, when the humidity in the air increases, bacteria and viruses easily spread, especially the flu virus. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Hai, a medical expert at the Safpo/Potec Vaccination System, said that when the weather is humid, the humid air makes the nose and throat susceptible to infection.

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“Respiratory diseases such as flu, pneumonia, and bronchitis are at higher risk of breaking out this season. The flu virus will have a chance to spread more widely in the community when people gather in closed, crowded areas with poor ventilation systems,” said Dr. Hai.

Health experts warn that some groups are at risk of catching the flu and experiencing dangerous complications, including young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, stroke, etc.

Health experts advise that everyone is at risk of seasonal flu, but some groups need to pay special attention and get vaccinated at this time to prevent serious complications, including: Young children, especially children under 12 months old whose immune systems are not fully developed. Elderly people, aged 65 and over, with weakened immune systems.

Women who are pregnant or have recently given birth during flu season, as changes in their physical and immune systems during this time can increase their risk of getting sick. People with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, stroke, and those on long-term medication.

In addition, people with weakened immune systems, obese people (BMI over 40), people with diseases affecting the nervous system, and people under 20 years old who are taking aspirin for a long time are also in the group that needs to get vaccinated against flu.

In addition to the above subjects, according to Dr. Nguyen Tuan Hai, every person needs to be vaccinated against seasonal flu to prevent serious complications caused by the disease.

Answering a reporter's question about the types of flu vaccines in circulation, according to Dr. Hai, in essence we have inactivated seasonal flu vaccines (dead virus or only part of the virus is dead) and live attenuated vaccines. Currently we mainly use inactivated vaccines in the form of fragmented viruses (this type is safe and effective).

According to the number of antigens we have Trivalent or Quadrivalent vaccines (3 or 4 viruses). They do this (mixture of 3 or 4 viruses) so that the vaccination can protect against most of the viruses that are circulating in the world (coverage).

However, we need to pay attention to which “season” (year) the vaccine belongs to and whether it belongs to the Northern or Southern Hemisphere. The reason is that the Winter-Spring seasons of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are different.

According to the Ministry of Health , the seasonal flu outbreak in Japan is going strong. From September 2024 to January 2025, Japan recorded about 9.5 million flu cases, mainly caused by influenza A. Densely populated areas and tourist destinations such as Tokyo, Hokkaido, Osaka and Fukuoka are being hit hard.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also said that in the last weeks of 2024, the incidence of influenza and acute respiratory infections (ARI) increased sharply in many countries in the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, North America, Central America and many countries in Asia.

The Ministry of Health recommends that people take the following preventive measures to minimize the risk of seasonal flu:

Get a seasonal flu vaccine: This is the most effective way to protect yourself from the flu. Wash your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer, especially after coughing or sneezing.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, handkerchief, or sleeve when coughing or sneezing to reduce the spread of droplets. Wear a mask when going out, especially in crowded places and on public transport. Avoid unnecessary contact with people who have or may have the flu.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Eat a nutritious diet, strengthen your immune system and exercise regularly.

When experiencing symptoms such as cough, fever, runny nose, headache, fatigue, people should not self-test or buy medicine to treat at home but should contact a medical facility for timely advice and treatment.

Doctors also warn that many people with the flu are often subjective, thinking it is just a mild illness and do not go to the doctor early, which can lead to dangerous complications.

In the face of the increasing seasonal flu situation, the Ministry of Health has asked localities to implement plans to prevent infectious diseases. The Ministry also recommends border health surveillance and quarantine measures to detect cases early and limit the spread.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/thoi-tiet-nom-am-lam-tang-nguy-co-bung-phat-dich-cum-d247872.html