China CDC: Currently more than 99% of influenza viruses are influenza A! Urgent reminder →

Winter is the peak season for respiratory diseases such as influenza. Yesterday (January 5), the topic #甲流## National influenza virus positive rate rises rapidly # became a hot search, attracting the attention of netizens.

According to data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

The pathogens that were positive for testing in outpatient and emergency departments of sentinel hospitals were mainly influenza virus, human metapneumovirus, and rhinovirus;

The main pathogens detected positive in hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases were influenza virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and human metapneumovirus.

It can be seen that influenza is one of the most important pathogens in both outpatient and emergency cases and serious hospitalized cases.

Image source: China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

In addition, the influenza virus positivity rate is rising rapidly, of which more than 99% are influenza A, and the prevalent strains are mainly A(H1N1)pdm09 subtype .

Influenza A≠Common Cold

"Influenza A" is the abbreviation of influenza type A, an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza A virus infection.

Influenza viruses can be divided into four types: A, B, C, and D according to their core proteins . The influenza viruses that are seasonally prevalent in the human population are influenza A (A H1N1 subtype and A H3N2 subtype) and influenza B (Yamagata and Victoria lineages). Compared with influenza B virus, influenza A virus has many hosts in nature and is more prone to mutation or reassortment, causing it to spread rapidly among the human population. Many large-scale influenza outbreaks in history have been related to influenza A virus .

Influenza has an acute onset and is mostly self-limiting. It mainly presents with fever, headache, myalgia and general malaise, with a body temperature of 39-40°C, chills and shivering, often accompanied by systemic symptoms such as muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and loss of appetite, often with sore throat and dry cough, and may have nasal congestion, runny nose, discomfort behind the sternum, facial flushing, and conjunctival congestion. Some patients have mild symptoms or no symptoms.

Mild influenza often presents similarly to the common cold, but with more obvious fever and systemic symptoms. Severe cases may present with viral pneumonia, secondary bacterial pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, cardiovascular and neurological system extrapulmonary manifestations, and multiple complications, and even death.

What is the difference between the influenza “miracle drugs” Mabaloxavir and Oseltamivir?

As the number of people infected with influenza increases, the sales of anti-influenza drugs have continued to grow recently. Because of its ability to fight influenza A and B viruses, many people regard oseltamivir as a "miracle drug" against influenza.

Oseltamivir is a drug with antiviral activity against influenza A and B. It can inhibit the release of viruses from infected cells and reduce the spread of viruses. Experts point out that oseltamivir is ineffective against other types of cold viruses. If you have cold symptoms, you should seek medical attention in time and take medicine as soon as possible after diagnosis.

Oseltamivir has different dosage forms, including capsules, granules and suspensions, to suit people of different age groups. Only suspensions are available for infants under one year old. Oseltamivir is a prescription drug. When used to prevent or treat influenza A, it must be used under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist. Self-administration is not recommended .

Another drug called " Mabaloxavir " is also popular.

According to doctors, the mechanism of action of Mabaloxavir is different from that of Oseltamivir.

Mabaloxavir inhibits the replication of influenza virus, preventing the virus from entering the body; oseltamivir inhibits the release of the virus from infected cells, reducing the spread of the virus.

The elimination half-life of mabaloxavir after a single dose is approximately 79 hours; the half-life of oseltamivir blood concentration decreases is generally 6 to 10 hours.

Mabaloxavir only needs to be given once throughout the entire course of the disease; oseltamivir needs to be taken twice a day for five consecutive days.

At present, Mabaloxavir is only approved for use in children over 5 years old and weighing more than 20 kg and adults; Oseltamivir capsules and granules can be used for children over 1 year old and adults, and the dry suspension is suitable for an even younger age. For young children, the dosage is calculated based on their weight.

Doctors remind that infants and young children should give priority to seeking medical treatment in a timely manner after being infected and take medication under the guidance of a doctor. Medication safety should also be a priority for pregnant and lactating patients.

What should I do if someone with influenza appears in my home?

1. Patients are advised to rest at home . They should live in a single room as much as possible, keep the room ventilated, and reduce the chance of contact with co-residents.

2. Patients need to pay attention to personal hygiene . Maintain good respiratory hygiene habits and cover their mouths and noses with tissues or towels when coughing or sneezing.

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3. Closely observe the health status of patients and family members . If patients or other family members have persistent high fever, accompanied by severe cough, breathing difficulties, mental changes, severe vomiting and diarrhea, etc., they should seek medical attention in time. When patients go to the hospital for treatment, patients and accompanying personnel should wear masks to avoid cross infection.

4. As far as possible, a relatively fixed family member who is not in the high-risk group for influenza should take care of and contact the patient, and a mask should be worn when in close contact with the patient. Family members, especially those in the high-risk group for influenza, should avoid close contact with influenza patients as much as possible.

To prevent influenza A, the key is to do these things

Pay attention to maintaining good hygiene habits such as hand hygiene and coughing etiquette on a daily basis.

During the influenza season, try to avoid going to crowded places and avoid contact with people with respiratory symptoms.

Clean and ventilate your residence regularly, and clean and disinfect key areas such as door handles and handrails regularly.

When going to public places or hospitals for treatment, patients and their caregivers should wear masks to avoid cross infection. The elderly should avoid going to poorly ventilated public places unless necessary and develop the habit of wearing masks when going out.

Pay attention to regular diet, ensure adequate sleep, insist on exercising, and maintain a good attitude.

Flu vaccination is one of the main measures to prevent and control influenza . Vaccinating people with flu vaccines before the flu season can reduce the chance of the vaccine recipients contracting the flu or alleviate the symptoms of the flu.

Comprehensive sources: China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xinhua News Agency, CCTV News, etc.