Readiness of the Almaty region for the upcoming epidemic season of influenza and SARS

Influenza is an acute respiratory viral infection transmitted by airborne droplets and is characterized by catarrhal inflammation of the upper respiratory tract with symptoms of specific intoxication. The disease is seasonal and peaks in the autumn-winter period. The influenza virus circulates all over the world, causing epidemics and affecting members of any age group. It possesses a high degree of contaginousness (contagion) and virulence (a low amount of viral particles required to infect an organism). According to the World Health Organization, the flu and its complications annually claim the lives of 650 thousand people.

Since the beginning of the epidemiological season (from the 40th week of 2019 to the 35th week of 2020), 33,170 cases of ARVI have been registered in the Almaty region, including 186 cases of influenza, compared with the last epidemiological season, there is a decrease in the incidence of 1.8 %. The main share of ARVI patients was children under 14 years old, which is a total of 52% of the total morbidity.

The flu itself is fraught with complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis. It is pneumonia that is the cause of most deaths, from the respiratory tract and ENT organs such as otitis media, sinusitis, rhinitis, tracheitis, and from the cardiovascular system (myocarditis, pericarditis), the nervous system (meningitis, meningoencephalitis, encephalitis, neuritis ). Complications of influenza can lead the patient to disability, in severe cases - to death. After the flu, chronic diseases such as bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular diseases, diseases caused by metabolic disorders, etc., are aggravated.

It is important to timely prevent and seek medical help in the event of the first signs and symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza.

Every year the local budget allocates financial resources for immunization against influenza. This year, over 300 thousand doses of Grippol Plus vaccine have already been purchased in the Almaty region. Preventive vaccinations are carried out in medical organizations 2-3 weeks before the onset of the rise in the incidence, from the end of September.

Vaccination is recommended for all groups of the population, and especially for children with frequent illnesses, children from orphanages, disabled people, pregnant women (II and III trimester), people with chronic diseases, and medical workers. In the last epidemic season, in the Almaty region, 115 361 children under 14 years old and 23 160 medical workers received flu vaccinations.

In order to prevent acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, in addition to vaccination, simple rules must be observed: avoid contact with people who have signs of respiratory diseases; wash your hands regularly with soap or antibacterial agents; Limit visits to crowded places (entertainment and sports events, gatherings, meetings, etc.), regularly ventilate the room in which you are (at work and at home), adhere to a healthy lifestyle - walk in the fresh air more often, go in for sports, relax nutrition, good rest and sleep. All these activities are aimed at increasing the body's ability to resist not only against influenza and ARVI, but also other infectious diseases !!!

If you feel the first symptoms of illness, stay at home and see your doctor immediately for recommendations on treatment. Self-medication for influenza is unacceptable, it is the doctor who must make the diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment. After all, it is impossible to predict the course of influenza, and complications can be very different.

It is important to remember: most cases of complications and tragic outcomes occur with self-medication and untimely referral to a doctor.