The influenza season is upon us in South Africa. However, there are ways to prevent the virus from spreading to other individuals.
According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), influenza, usually known as the flu, is an acute respiratory tract illness caused by the influenza virus. Two types of the influenza virus commonly infect humans, which are types A and B. The flu viruses are typically in circulation before the winter months in South Africa, ranging from the end of April to mid-June.
The virus can spread from person to person. It can be passed from an infected person to other people through the inhalation of infected respiratory droplets from sneezing, coughing, or talking.
A person can also be infected by touching contaminated objects or surfaces that the flu virus is on and touching their mouth, eyes, or nose afterwards.
People who are infected with influenza can prevent the spread of the virus by practising the following:
- Covering their mouth with a tissue when coughing or coughing into the elbow
- Wearing a mask
- Washing their hands frequently with soap and water or cleaning hands with an alcohol-based sanitizer
- Staying at home and trying to keep a distance from others
NICD says these are the most common symptoms in infected patients are:
- Sudden onset of fever
- Muscle pains and body aches
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Feeling tired or unwell
- Headache
These symptoms can develop anytime, from one to four days after infection and last two to seven days. For most people, the symptoms commonly resolve without treatment; however, complicated influenza infections can cause serious illness and, in some cases, death.
Severely ill patients with influenza should be admitted to the hospital. The most common complication of influenza is pneumonia.
Also see: Are you afraid of the rain? Here are some tips to overcoming your fear this winter
