South Africa’s influenza season has arrived earlier than expected this year, starting on 24 March, four weeks earlier than last year, and marks the earliest start to the flu season since 2010, based on pneumonia surveillance at public hospitals.
This according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases which, last week, issued a warning urging South Africans to be vaccinated early.
Both it and the World Health Organisation recognise vaccination as the most effective way to prevent flu.
“This early start doesn’t mean that this year’s flu season will be more severe than in previous years, but it does mean that now is the time to protect yourself and your loved ones by getting the flu vaccine,” said spokesperson Vuyo Sabani in a statement to the media last week.
“Although the vaccine is most effective when given before the season starts it is not too late to get vaccinated. Protection develops about two weeks after vaccination, and annual vaccination is needed as flu viruses change over time and protection does not last from one year to the next.”
Symptoms
For most people flu symptoms are mild and resolve in a few days. But for some, influenza can lead to severe illness, hospitalisation, even death.
Those most at risk include pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses or suppressed immune systems, people over 60 and children under 2.
These groups, said Sabani, are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated as soon as possible and seek medical care early if they develop flu symptoms.
‘Particularly fast’
A general practitioner at Netcare Medicross, Dr Michael de Villiers, described the influenza virus as ” … particularly fast, clever and savvy at adapting”, causing it to evolve constantly, developing new strains to evade people’s immunity, which means one can become sick every flu season.
“Every year a new vaccination is typically developed for new and particularly bad flu strains. There are many cold and flu viruses to target and scientists work hard to protect against the most threatening variations. However, it is not yet possible to include protection for all strains in the annual flu vaccine.
“Explained in simple terms, vaccines act as ‘coaches’ that help to prepare the immune system to defend itself quickly from future invasions of a particular virus before it grows in the body and becomes overwhelming. It takes around two weeks to train the immune system to build up the firepower needed to fight off a full attack of the flu quickly.
Recommended every year
“The influenza vaccine is generally recommended every year. Especially for those at risk of severe flu with complications. These include individuals who have challenges with their health, including those with chronic illness, children older than six months, those who are pregnant or planning pregnancy, and people over the age of 60.
“It is important to remember that even if you do not get sick with the flu yourself you can still carry it and pass the infection on to others, leading to wider transmission within communities. Therefore we all have a role in preventing the spread of infection, including through non-pharmaceutical measures such as practising good hand hygiene and staying home when you are ill.”
