Cape Town – The Department of Health has issued a warning about the increasing spread of influenza, or flu, across the country since the beginning of May.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) informed the department about the rising number of cases.
The department said that the cases have been steadily increasing since April 10, 2023, and the NICD has reported clusters of influenza in schools and workplaces.
The provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and North West have identified an increase in case numbers through surveillance.
Influenza is an acute respiratory illness caused by an infection of the respiratory tract with the influenza virus.
“There are two types of influenza viruses that commonly infect humans namely A and B. The flu viruses are typically in circulation before the winter season in South Africa.
“The virus spreads from person to person through inhalation of infected respiratory droplets when people are sneezing, coughing or talking. A person can also be infected by touching contaminated objects or surfaces that the flu virus is on and then touching their mouth, eyes or nose,” the department said.
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It advised people infected with influenza to take preventive measures such as covering their mouth when coughing, wearing a mask, washing hands frequently with soap and water or using hand sanitiser, and staying at home while maintaining distance from others.
“Although the majority of people with influenza will present with mild illness, influenza may cause severe illness, which may require hospitalisation or cause death, especially in individuals who are at risk of getting severe influenza illness or complications,” the department said.
People at increased risk of severe health complications of influenza include pregnant women, people living with conditions like HIV and others chronic illnesses or conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, tuberculosis, heart disease, renal disease and obesity.
Elderly people, who are 65 years and older, and children younger than 2 years old are also at increased risk of severe health complications.
Early medical help is encouraged for these high-risk groups, the department said.
Common symptoms of influenza include fever, muscle pains, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, and headache. Symptoms usually appear 1 to 4 days after infection and last for 2 to 7 days, with most cases resolving without treatment.
The department said that the influenza vaccine is the primary means of preventing infection and should ideally be administered before the influenza season (March to April).
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
