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Ukrainians are attacked by influenza A: what you need to know about the symptoms

Author: Iryna Shevchenko

The incidence of influenza is on the rise in Ukraine. In particular, the most common is type A flu, reports with reference to the Ministry of Health.

According to the Ministry of Health, since the beginning of the epidemic season in Ukraine, from 2 October 2023 to 21 January 2024, 2 million 288 thousand 634 people have been ill with influenza and ARVI. This is 25% more than in the same period of the 2022/2023 season.

Among those who fell ill, 54.4% were children.

A total of 14 fatalities due to influenza have been reported since the beginning of the epidemic season.

In the 3rd week of 2024 (15-21 January):

• 142 thousand people fell ill with SARS, of which more than 66 thousand were children under the age of 17, 4 thousand 728 people were hospitalised (3.3% of the total number of patients with acute respiratory viral infections);
• five fatalities were recorded among patients diagnosed with influenza, in whom the influenza virus type A was not subtyped; all the deceased had not been vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19;
• 3,654 cases of COVID-19 were detected, including 393 cases in children under 17 years of age; 30 deaths were reported among people with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

Currently, all regions of Ukraine remain at a non-epidemic level and the situation is stable.

What do doctors say

In his commentary, infectious disease doctor Dmytro Dudar said that the number of covid cases is much lower now. Influenza A has come out on top.

“But it’s worth noting that covid hasn’t gone away and won’t go anywhere. It will be a seasonal viral infection with a periodic rise in the incidence. Now we will live with covid all the time,”

– said Dudar.

Fedir Lapiy, immunologist, associate professor of the Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at the Shupyk National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, chairman of the National Technical Group of Experts on Immunoprophylaxis, member of the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts (ETAGE), said in a commentary said that winter is the perfect time for viruses. Every year, it is at this time that doctors record the largest number of patients with flu and other respiratory diseases.

“We are now suffering more from flu, the number of patients is growing. This is traditional for the second half of January and early February – a lot of children get sick. Contacts in schools and kindergartens have resumed, we have started to neglect masks, and this contributes to the spread of the flu. We have every reason to expect an increase in the incidence, as in previous seasons, in late winter and early spring,”

– he explained.

In some cases, the flu can be fatal. People at high risk of complications from flu infection should always seek medical attention.

“The risk group is usually elderly people with some severe comorbidities. Let’s put it this way: influenza A leads to exacerbation of chronic diseases, decompensation of chronic diseases, and these deaths are no longer even related to influenza, but rather to some old diseases in the elderly. The incidence of influenza A has always increased during the season, only with covid we have forgotten about it a bit,”

– Dudar emphasised.

Doctors warn: if you catch the flu – have a high fever, excessive sweating, weakness, headache, runny nose, dry cough, muscle and joint pain – consult a doctor immediately.

What are the types of flu?

There are two main types of human influenza viruses: A and B, which cause seasonal epidemics every year.

Influenza A is the most common and most dangerous type that affects people. Influenza B is less common.

First symptoms: what is the difference between a cold and the flu?

A respiratory viral infection (cold) is often called “flu”, although the difference between them is significant, both in terms of the dynamics of the disease and its complications.

Influenza starts suddenly. It often starts with severe headaches and muscle pain, fever, weakness, and severe fatigue. The flu begins with a sharp rise in temperature, and respiratory symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, mucus production, and sore throat are added later.

The influenza virus primarily affects the upper respiratory tract and lungs, and in addition, the heart muscle and the inner surface of blood vessels. This was shown by recent research at the Ohio State University (USA). That is why the most common complications of influenza are pneumonia, heart failure and thrombosis. In addition, the course of influenza exacerbates chronic diseases, including diabetes mellitus, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.

The commoncold develops over several days, and people often suffer from it on their feet. It usually starts with a sore throat and runny nose. Within a few days, a person has a sore throat, a stuffy nose, a slightly elevated temperature, weakness, and a headache.

How you can catch the flu virus:

transmitted by airborne droplets;

through close contact (staying at a distance of about 2 m).

How to protect yourself from viruses?

Doctors have repeatedly stressed that the best protection against viruses is vaccination. This applies not only to influenza but also to coronavirus infection.

As of 21 January, 129,840 people had been vaccinated against influenza, including 81,933 people at medical and epidemic risk. In week 3 of 2024, 1,254 people received the vaccination.

Free COVID-19 vaccinations are available in all regions of Ukraine, and you can get information about the nearest vaccination point by calling the Ministry of Health’s contact centre at 0 800 60 20 19.

Flu vaccination is recommended every season, and the vaccine can be purchased at a pharmacy, as it is not included in the list of free vaccines.