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When it comes to breathing viruses, COVID has been our biggest fear over the past two winters. So you feel some facets of déjà vu as the winter of 2022 approaches in Australia. But this year is different. With the rest of the public fitness measures and the opening of foreign borders, we will most likely see an increase in flu cases. This is in addition to an expected increase in COVID. (Also read: Covid-19 surge: What the WHO said, where cases are emerging and why)
The potential double whammy prompted the federal government to announce A$2. 1 billion to address those expected spikes. Funds have been earmarked for measures such as vaccination, testing and measures for the care of the elderly.
Here’s what to expect and how to do it before winter.
Why can we expect more flu?
The main explanation for the expected accumulation of influenza in 2022 is the opening of Australia’s foreign borders.
Returning tourists and citizens can arrive without quarantine, as long as they have the required COVID vaccinations and have been tested for COVID beforehand. However, new arrivals do not have to be tested for the flu virus, which they may inadvertently bring with them.
The flu, like COVID, can be transmitted through other inflamed people before symptoms appear or even if symptoms don’t appear, which we see in children. So once the flu hits, it will inevitably spread, whether we wear masks, hand sanitizer, or other measures.
In the last two years, for example, we have noticed significant outbreaks of other non-unusual respiratory viruses. These come with respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, adenovirus, and rhinovirus. We have noticed them even with strict COVID measures in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland in 2020-2021.
What will it be like?
It is very likely that we will see COVID and the flu circulating at the same time this winter. But the less certain are the more catastrophic predictions in the media of the so-called doubledemic or syndemic.
COVID is more likely to persist and build up winter, and infrequently the flu will appear this time. But we’re not sure of the details.
Will we see an accumulation in instances of the same era prior to June to September, with an equal peak in August?The answers to those questions are based on history, existing data. scenario and many speculations.
History tells us that after two seasons of low or no flu, we expect a more severe season. This is because most people don’t get a flu shot every year and other people’s natural immunity after infection will have decreased. .
However, the existing evidence opposes this. In the Northern Hemisphere, there have been low levels of influenza circulating in most countries, with shorter epidemics, than in the years leading up to the pandemic.
We have also noticed that several countries in the southern hemisphere, in addition to South Africa, Brazil and Chile, have flu outbreaks in the off-season, their summer of 2021-2022.
This would possibly mean that the timing of the overall flu season in Australia could also be delayed until spring or even later in 2022.
Will I spread “flurona”?
We can also see double infections, when a user has COVID and flu at the same time, called “flurona”.
Although this has happened, international rates of double infection have been low. Typically, less than 1% of other people with COVID also have the flu at the same time. Even with a double infection, other people don’t seem to be sicker than if they had COVID alone.
We’ll get a better idea of how many other people become inflamed with any of the viruses at once by using larger lab tests now found in many places. and influenza, in a single test.
Fortunately, a new “hybrid virus” has emerged containing parts of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) and the flu virus in other people with dual infection. These are separate viruses that cannot be combined.
How can I do it myself?
Despite the uncertainties around the flu in Australia in 2022, the most productive way for you is to get a flu shot.
Everyone is vulnerable to the flu, regardless of age, fitness or lifestyle. However, certain age teams and other people with an underlying illness are likely to suffer more serious consequences if they become inflamed with the flu.
These come with young people (especially those under the age of two), other people over the age of 65, pregnant women, other people with chronic lung and central diseases, asthmatics, diabetics, and other obese people.
Different flu vaccines target other age teams with other formulations. These vaccines have a proven history of protection and only cause very mild reactions, such as pain at the injection site, mild fever, or headache. These can last from 12 to 24 hours and are treated without problems. with paracetamol or similar medicines.
Flu vaccines are loose for children older than six months to less than five years, other people over the age of 65 or older, pregnant women and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and others over the age of six months. People who are not eligible for loose vaccines can still get them through their GP or some pharmacies.
This year, you may not have to schedule other visits for your flu and COVID vaccines. If necessary, you can receive them at the same time.
Flu shots will be available starting in late March and will offer coverage for at least 6 to 12 months. While these vaccines are perfect, they help prevent infections and the more serious consequences of the flu, such as hospitalization and even death. . So from April to May of this year, when cool days and nights return, consider booking and getting a flu shot.
(By Ian Barr, WHO Collaborating Centre for Influenza Reference and Research)
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