Beware of the epidemic situation and the risk control of influenza to draw the prevention and control priorities for you.

　　At present, the global COVID-19 epidemic is one after another, and autumn and winter are the seasons of high incidence of respiratory diseases. There may be a risk that the COVID-19 epidemic and influenza and other respiratory infectious diseases will overlap this autumn and winter. Influenza and COVID-19 are both respiratory infectious diseases. Doing a good job in influenza prevention and control can greatly reduce the risk of COVID-19. Shaanxi CDC will draw the epidemic prevention focus for you.

　　What is influenza?

　　Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by influenza virus. At present, people are mainly infected with H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes of influenza A virus and Yamagata and Victoria strains of influenza B virus. It is mainly transmitted by sneezing, coughing and other droplets, and can also be transmitted directly or indirectly through mucous membranes such as mouth, nose and eyes. In addition, contact with items contaminated by viruses can also cause infection.

　　The difference between flu and common cold.

　　The clinical symptoms of a cold are mild, mainly manifested as sneezing, nasal congestion, watery nose, and some of them can also cough, dry throat, itchy throat or burning sensation, with little fever, few complications and weak infectivity. Generally, it will be cured in 5-7 days. Having a cold usually does not affect physical strength and appetite, and normal work and study are rarely affected.

　　But the flu is very different! Influenza mainly manifests as fever, headache, myalgia and general malaise, with a body temperature of 39-40℃, chills, sore muscles and joints, fatigue, loss of appetite and other systemic symptoms, such as sore throat, dry cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, post-sternal malaise, flushed face and conjunctival congestion. Some patients are characterized by vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Very few severe patients may have viral pneumonia, viral myocarditis or viral encephalitis.

　　Who are vulnerable to influenza?

　　The whole population is generally susceptible to influenza. Combined with the epidemic situation in COVID-19 this year, in order to minimize the harm of influenza and its impact on the prevention and control of epidemic situation in COVID-19, the Technical Guide for Influenza Vaccination in China (2020-2021) recommends vaccinating key and high-risk groups in order of priority:

　　1 medical personnel, including clinical rescue personnel, public health personnel, health and quarantine personnel, etc.;

　　2. Vulnerable people and employees in gathering places such as old-age care institutions, long-term care institutions and welfare homes;

　　3. People in key places, such as kindergartens, teachers and students in primary and secondary schools, and detainees and staff in prison institutions;

　　4. Other people with high risk of influenza, including the elderly at home aged 60 and above, children aged 6 months to 5 years, patients with chronic diseases, family members and caregivers of infants under 6 months, pregnant women or women who are going to get pregnant during the flu season. For ≥ People who are 6 months old and have no contraindications can be vaccinated with influenza vaccine.

　　Effective means to prevent influenza — — vaccination

　　Influenza vaccination is the most effective means to prevent influenza, which can significantly reduce the risk of influenza and serious complications, but influenza vaccination needs to be vaccinated every year. The main reason is that influenza virus is prone to mutation, which leads to different strains circulating every year, so it is natural to update the corresponding vaccine to defend it.

　　Around February every year, the World Health Organization will release influenza vaccine strains in the northern hemisphere in time according to the epidemic situation of influenza virus.

　　Usually, after 2-4 weeks of influenza vaccination, antibodies with protective level can be produced, and the antibody titer begins to decline after 6-8 months. Therefore, it is recommended to arrange vaccination as soon as possible after booking the vaccine. In the same influenza epidemic season, people who have completed the whole vaccination according to the vaccination procedures do not need to be vaccinated again.

　　In addition, autumn and winter are the high incidence seasons of respiratory diseases. While doing a good job in influenza prevention and control, we should also do a good job in the prevention of respiratory infectious diseases by other vaccines. In particular, we should do a good job in vaccination of measles, rubella, mumps, chickenpox vaccines and other diseases that exist in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens and cause epidemic and outbreak risks. It is suggested that the elderly, children and patients with chronic diseases should be vaccinated with pneumonia vaccine at the same time.

　　Epidemic prevention behavior is very important

　　The effectiveness of some epidemic prevention behaviors and measures has been verified in the epidemic prevention and control in COVID-19. Therefore, reducing the exposure risk from the transmission link can also play a certain role in preventing influenza.

　　Step 1 wash your hands frequently

　　After touching public facilities (such as door handles, elevator buttons, etc.); After coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with your hands, touch money and dirt, and when there is no visible pollutant on your hands, you can rub your hands with hand disinfectant for at least 20 seconds.

　　Step 2 wear a mask scientifically

　　When wearing a mask, press the metal strips on both sides of the nose and nose with both hands to make them fit closely. Then pull the folds of the mask up and down to ensure that it completely covers the mouth, nose and chin.

　　Step 3 gather less

　　Keep the distance between people, do not get together, and avoid going to crowded places.

　　4. Implement a separate meal system.

　　Use public chopsticks and spoons, and advocate buffet or meal sharing; Self-checkout should avoid crowding and reduce gatherings and dinners.

　　5. Environmental sanitation

　　Clean, disinfect and ventilate. Offices and classrooms should insist on regular ventilation every day.

　　Step 6 observe social etiquette

　　Cough and sneeze to cover your nose and mouth, shake hands and wave when you meet, keep a distance of one meter socially, and many people are assigned to take the elevator. (Source: Shaanxi CDC Micro Signal)