BEIJING: A flu outbreak in southern China has led to a drug shortage, prompting doctors to warn of the twin health risks of influenza and COVID-19. This information was given in a government media report on Monday. According to a report in Global Times, experts said that weakened herd immunity due to continued COVID-19 prevention measures including lockdown may be partly responsible for the unusual rise in influenza cases.
Doctors and experts say it is worrying that the number of people suffering from influenza is much higher than in winter, which usually occurs when the infection spreads more rapidly. According to the Global Times report, the latest report by the Chinese National Influenza Center (CNIC) said, “Of the 507 cases of influenza in 17 provinces between April 4 and June 19, 503 were in southern China, which is an increase of 136 cases in 2021. Much more in comparison.” An influenza outbreak is defined as when the number of flu victims reaches 10 or more.
3 regions of China most affected
“Due to the high demand, antiviral drugs for influenza such as oseltamivir are available in small numbers in many pharmacies in southern China,” the news report said. The CNIC report said that two regions in southern China – Guangdong and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regions – and one in eastern China – Fujian province – topped the list with the most influenza-affected. The number of influenza cases in these three regions is 119, 79, and 109 respectively.
Infection rates of influenza subtypes higher
Shenzhen hospital chief Lu Hongzhou told the Global Times that heavy rains, low temperatures, and containment measures against COVID-19, which reduced the public’s risk of respiratory illnesses, were actually ‘unusual influenza spread in southern China’. has contributed to. The report states that most cases of influenza A (H3N2) subtype have been found in increasing infections in South China, characterized by high epidemic intensity, high infection rate, and increasingly frequent mutations. However, Lu said that the death rate from this infection is 0.2%.
