He died of influenza A and influenza B at the age of 41! Why can you get influenza B after getting influenza A?

On February 15, the official website of New Weekly and other platforms published an article titled "You who have silently protected <New Weekly> for 16 years, rest in peace | Farewell Yuyan", which revealed that Wu Yuyan, the 41-year-old deputy director of the proofreading office of New Weekly, recently contracted a severe combination of influenza A and influenza B and passed away on February 4, 2025.

The article said that Wu Yuyan was born in 1984 in Huazhou, Maoming, Guangdong. She was the eldest daughter in the family and the mother of two children. Everyone called her "Yuyan" or "Ayan". In 2009, Wu Yuyan, who had just graduated, joined New Weekly and had been engaged in proofreading for nearly 16 years. Before her death, she served as the deputy director of the proofreading office of New Weekly.

Last year, Wu Yuyan just gave birth to her second child and returned to work after maternity leave in August. In January 2025, an unexpected flu interrupted her normal life. She initially planned to take medicine to relieve the symptoms, but later she had repeated high fevers and had to be hospitalized. Ten days later, she was diagnosed with severe influenza A and B and was transferred to the ICU. On the third day in the ICU, Wu Yuyan's condition deteriorated rapidly and her physical indicators dropped sharply. Before she had time to leave any words, she hurriedly said goodbye to all those who cared about her.

What is the difference between influenza A and influenza B?

Why can one get influenza B after having influenza A?

How should we protect ourselves?

Regarding the above issues

Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides answers

Influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus. Influenza virus is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets produced by sneezing and coughing of the infected person. It can also be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with mucous membranes such as the mouth, nose, and eyes.

Influenza viruses can be divided into four types: A, B, C, and D. The main types of influenza viruses that cause seasonal epidemics are influenza A and B viruses. The composition of influenza A and B viruses will also change alternately in different influenza seasons or at different periods of the same influenza season.

According to the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza A and influenza B are two different subtypes of influenza viruses. They both contain two main surface proteins, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, but their structures are different, which leads to large differences in antigenicity between them, but not much difference in pathogenicity.

So, why can you get influenza B after getting influenza A? Experts from the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that the specific antibodies produced after infection with influenza A virus cannot provide effective protection against influenza B infection, and vice versa. Therefore, after being infected with influenza A, you may still be infected with influenza B.

Wang Guiqiang, director of the infectious disease department of Peking University First Hospital, said that **if symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection appear, differential diagnosis should be carried out in time, and antigen or nucleic acid testing should be carried out. After a clear diagnosis, targeted treatment can be given. **For example, anti-influenza drugs can be used for influenza, especially for the elderly, children and patients with underlying diseases. Anti-influenza drugs should be used as early as possible.

Beijing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminds that whether it is influenza A or influenza B, you can better protect yourself through scientific protection. First, pay attention to personal hygiene habits, wash your hands after going out, before meals, after defecation, and before touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and do not spit anywhere.

In addition, pay attention to keeping the air circulating at home, open the windows for ventilation 2 to 3 times a day, and each time for no less than 30 minutes. When opening the windows for ventilation, pay attention to keep warm. If there is a patient with fever at home, pay attention to reduce contact with the patient. Wear a mask when in contact, do not touch the eyes, nose, and oral mucosa after contact, and especially wash your hands frequently. Pay attention to disinfection of the home environment and increase the number of indoor ventilation.

We should maintain a healthy lifestyle, enhance the body's immunity, eat three meals a day regularly, and reasonably combine staple food, fruits and vegetables, poultry, fish, meat and eggs; we should exercise moderately and ensure sleep. At the same time, we should also pay close attention to our health status. If we have abnormal symptoms such as fever and acute respiratory infection, we should take measures such as resting at home, taking medicine or seeking medical treatment in time according to the situation. If the condition worsens or the original underlying disease is significantly aggravated, we should seek medical treatment immediately.

The Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention reminds that influenza vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of contracting influenza and developing serious complications. The influenza vaccine of this epidemic season contains type B influenza antigen components, which is more effective in protecting against type B influenza infection.

Source: Xinhua News Agency, China News Network, The Paper