Doctors warn flu season ‘uncertain’

In 2020, almost no cases of influenza were recorded, and this dynamic has continued into 2021. In 2022, there was an atypical influenza season with an early onset and two pandemic waves, influenza A in November and December, and influenza B in January and February. . Given this hugely fluctuating situation, the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (SemFYC) expects a single peak between February and March.

Family doctors insist on vaccination to avoid influenza epidemic from January to March

Regardless, SemFYC recommends vaccination, mainly for particularly vulnerable groups such as those over 60 years of age, people with chronic heart, respiratory, renal, liver or diabetic disease; pregnant women and social care workers. Likewise, this year for the first time all children aged 6 to 59 months are included in the recommendations, not just the most vulnerable.

Making estimates is complicated because

The behavior of the influenza virus that causes influenza depends on many factors, not just the virus that is circulating. If we look back at the evolution of influenza epidemics before the pandemic, an influenza pandemic will occur between January and March 2024.

How does influenza behave in the Southern Hemisphere?

The southern hemisphere’s flu season runs from April to September, which often provides clues to the northern hemisphere’s flu season (October to May). Regarding developments, Chile and South Africa reported an early start to their flu seasons in early May; while in Argentina and Australia, flu activity levels are currently in line with expectations. On the other hand, infection rates are lower than in the last pre-pandemic year (2019) and in 2022, with significant consequences for the child population.

When it comes to southern hemisphere countries being hospitalized due to the virus, South Africa reports a level ease Hospitalizations related to the virus while Australia is reporting levels normal Hospitalizations relative to historical trends.