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The epidemic trend of respiratory viruses in my country is changing. This press conference answers 6 major focuses
January 14, 2024 19:13 Beijing News Author: Dai Xuan
On January 14, the National Health Commission held a press conference to answer questions on winter respiratory disease prevention and health tips. The reporter learned from the meeting that the proportion of COVID-19 cases in northern provinces has exceeded 50% in the past five weeks; due to the continued import of JN.1 mutant strains, my country's new crown epidemic may rebound this month.
The relevant person in charge of the National Health Commission reminded that the current respiratory diseases in our country are still dominated by influenza, and the number of fever clinic visits has been fluctuating and declining. However, as the winter and Spring Festival holidays approach, large-scale movements and gatherings of people may accelerate the spread of respiratory diseases.
Focus 1: In some provinces, the second stream "overtakes" the first stream
Wang Dayan, director of the National Influenza Center at the Institute of Viral Diseases of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said seasonal influenza includes influenza A H1N1, influenza A H3N2 subtypes and influenza B.
In the same influenza epidemic season, different types and subtypes of influenza viruses usually co-circulate, but in different proportions.
my country's southern provinces have entered this influenza epidemic season since early October, and northern provinces since late October. In the early stage, the H3N2 subtype influenza virus was the main circulating strain. The proportion of influenza B viruses in southern provinces has continued to rise to 36.8% in the past three weeks, and the proportion of influenza B viruses in northern provinces has continued to rise to 57.7% in the past five weeks. In some provinces, the proportion of influenza B viruses has continued to rise to 36.8%. Influenza viruses account for more than influenza A viruses.
Focus 2: The COVID-19 epidemic may rebound this month
Wang Dayan said that recent data from the multi-channel monitoring system shows that after the New Year's Day holiday, the national new crown epidemic is still at a low level. Among them, the positive rate of new coronavirus tests in sentinel hospitals remains below 1%, and the proportion of JN.1 mutant strains is showing an upward trend. .
Experts believe that this winter and next spring, my country will continue to see a variety of respiratory pathogens alternate or co-circulate, and influenza viruses will still be dominant in the short term.
Affected by multiple factors such as the continued importation of JN.1 mutant strains, the gradual decrease in domestic influenza activity and the decline in population immunity, the new coronavirus infection epidemic may rebound this month, and the JN.1 mutant strain will most likely develop into a dominant epidemic strain in my country.
Focus 3: The spread of respiratory diseases may be accelerated during the winter holidays and Spring Festival
Mi Feng, spokesperson of the National Health Commission, said that since New Year’s Day, the number of fever clinic visits in medical institutions across the country has shown a fluctuating downward trend. The current respiratory diseases are still dominated by influenza, new coronavirus infection is at a low level, and medical services are generally stable and orderly.
As the winter and Spring Festival holidays approach, large-scale movements and gatherings of people may accelerate the spread of respiratory diseases. It is necessary to do a good job in monitoring and early warning, and strengthen the management of key places and prevention and control of key links. Provide health consultation and referral guidance and other services in a timely manner to key groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, children, and patients with chronic basic diseases, and provide convenient conditions for them to vaccinate.
Focus 4: Reinfections can still occur after influenza infection
Wang Guiqiang, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Peking University First Hospital, said that winter is the season when respiratory diseases occur more frequently, including many respiratory infections and non-infectious diseases, including influenza A and B, COVID-19, respiratory syncytium, mycoplasma, etc. After infection by these pathogens, the establishment of The immunity is not long-lasting, so repeated infections can occur, and there is no cross-immunity between them, so different pathogens can be infected at the same time or alternately.
For repeated infections in a short period of time, since the immunity established by the infection still exists, re-infection with the same pathogen often shows relatively mild symptoms, but infection with a different pathogen may aggravate the condition or worsen the condition, especially the upper respiratory tract mucosa. Barrier damage may also trigger bacterial infections. In this case, we must attach great importance to susceptible and vulnerable groups, especially the elderly, people with underlying diseases, and infants and young children.
Focus 5: The symptoms of influenza A and B are difficult to distinguish, and there is no cross-immunity between them.
Wang Dayan said that influenza A and B viruses are distinguished by the sequence characteristics of their genes and proteins. The seasonal influenza caused by them is difficult to distinguish in terms of clinical symptoms. To distinguish and identify influenza A or B viruses, pathogenic typing testing, such as nucleic acid testing and antigen testing, is required.
The immune response generated after getting influenza A cannot provide effective immune protection against influenza B. That is to say, even if you have had influenza A this epidemic season, you may still be infected with influenza B again. Currently, the influenza vaccine contains components of influenza A H1N1 subtype, H3N2 subtype and influenza B. It is recommended that high-risk groups receive influenza vaccine as early as possible every year.
Focus 6: Pay attention to etiological testing for respiratory tract infections
Wang Guiqiang said that when respiratory infectious diseases are relatively common, it is recommended that everyone take personal protection. If some symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection appear, differential diagnosis should be made in time, mainly for pathogen diagnosis.
Currently, there are pathogenic treatments for many respiratory infections, such as oseltamivir and mabaloxavir for influenza, antiviral drugs for COVID-19, and corresponding pathogenic treatments for mycoplasma, chlamydia, etc., which can effectively shorten the course of the disease. Reduce the risk of further transmission and reduce the risk of hospitalization and severe illness.
source: https://news.sina.com.cn/o/2024-01-1...ager_spt&tr=12
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