Metro advises residents about measures to counter the flu season

As the flu season is approaching, Tshwane metro’s health department wants to ensure residents have all the information they need to stay healthy and to be aware of flu vaccines being offered by clinics from April 8.

MMC for Health, Rina Marx said according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), influenza commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory tract illness caused by the influenza virus.

“There are three different strains that can cause seasonal flu, namely influenza A(H1N1), influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B,” said Marx.

She said the influenza virus, commonly known as the flu, is highly transmissible.

She added that the virus is transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets that are expelled when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.

These droplets can then be inhaled by others who are nearby.

“The flu can also be spread by touching surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth,” Marx said.

She said the flu is especially dangerous for vulnerable members of the population, such as the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

“According to the NICD, people at increased risk of severe illness or complications include pregnant women, people with HIV, people with chronic conditions, the elderly and children younger than two years old,” Marx said.

She pointed out that individuals infected with the flu virus may experience a variety of symptoms, including fever, a runny or congested nose, cough, tiredness, muscle aches, body aches, headaches, and shivers.

According to Marx, for most people, the symptoms usually go away without treatment.

However, it is important to note that some people may experience more severe symptoms and require medical intervention.

She explained that the flu can also lead to more serious complications, such as pneumonia.

“Most infected people will only need bed rest, adequate fluid intake and potentially paracetamol or similar medications to help with the fever or aches,” she said.

According to her, the symptoms may develop any time from one to four days after infection and last for two to seven days.

Marx urged the public to prevent infection by washing their hands regularly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub.

She also advised them to avoid being in contact with sick people.

According to metro health department spokesperson, Natashia Chhiba from April 8 flu vaccines are available at all public health facilities.

“The NICD recommends that ideally, the flu vaccine should be taken early March/April each year, before the flu season so that it has sufficient time to protect a person,” said Chhiba.

She said the vaccine does not protect people against all types of flu, but against the most common flu virus types that affect humans – types A and B.

“According to the NICD, the vaccine is an inactivated virus that is not harmful and cannot cause flu infection,” explained Chhiba.

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