Flu season is coming, and it can coexist with dengue and COVID-19

While dengue cases are increasing in Salta and transmission in the capital is unusual, coronavirus infection rates have been high since the beginning of the year and respiratory viruses, mainly influenza viruses, will begin to spread in the coming weeks.

Faced with this situation, the health department has launched a flu vaccination drive while warning about the importance of taking preventive measures while fighting dengue and COVID-19.

Francisco García Campos, General Director of Epidemiological Coordination of the Salta Provincial Ministry of Public Health, called on the public (mainly high-risk groups) to get vaccinated against influenza and to take preventive measures.

In conversation tribuneGarcía Campos clarified that it is difficult to determine whether cases of dengue and influenza will appear at the same time in the coming weeks.

Dengue fever and respiratory viruses

The epidemiology representative said this is happening because “dengue is affecting sectors where there is no transmission, such as the capital, which is where the respiratory virus starts to spread.”

García Campos added: “So, even with COVID-19, coexistence between two viruses is possible.”

The General Director of the Coordination of Epidemiology said that “at the beginning of this year we experienced the peak of the new coronavirus”, but currently the behavior of respiratory viruses is on a normal curve: “Our consultation volume has not increased. Respiratory viruses or circulation that have attracted our attention” .

Normal situation until today

“So far this year, only five isolates of influenza A viruses and one adenovirus have been found. To this day, our curve remains normal,” he insisted.

“You can live with the progression of dengue calmly, but salmonella cases have even decreased significantly,” García Campos said.

In addition to dengue, in the health sector they will also be watching the evolution of the coronavirus in the coming weeks. “The focus this season will be to see how the COVID cases evolve first because we can’t stop monitoring them and we can’t separate COVID from the flu or flu. Everything is monitored.”

syncytium test

García Campos revealed that “this year there will be special surveillance of everything related to obstructive bronchial syndrome and the presence of cases of respiratory syncytial virus, because this is the first year that pregnant people will be vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus” .

“You have to be very attentive to see what this behavior looks like,” he said.

Flu vaccination

The head of epidemiology said, “Vaccination is key because the vaccine combines viruses that were previously circulating in the northern hemisphere, including influenza A and influenza B.”

With appropriate measures and vaccinations in place, peaks of excess hospital demand can be avoided. “Vaccination helps reduce the spread of influenza viruses, influenza viruses (in this case, type A or B); and the occurrence of severe forms. It also reduces mortality from these conditions,” he said.

Prevention plays a key role

The key tool for almost every disease is prevention. And with respiratory viruses, infection and complications are more likely to be avoided with appropriate measures.

“Influenza has the same preventive measures as all respiratory diseases and the coronavirus,” García Campos said in the framework of the influenza prevention and vaccination campaign.

“When faced with respiratory symptoms, the first thing to do is to isolate these people, but it is respiratory isolation, not the kind of isolation we had four years ago. That is to use masks for people with respiratory symptoms.”

He remembered the importance of sneezing and coughing into your elbows instead of your hands; washing your hands; and the use of alcohol gel.

He also recommends that if you are going through the flu, rest as recommended by your medical provider and not self-medicate, as this is contraindicated.