2023-10-20 06:37:57
Title: Flu Season in Southern Hemisphere Raises Concerns for Northern Hemisphere: What Experts Say
Subtitle: The recent intense flu season in Australia sparks fears of a potential flu wave in the northern hemisphere
Date: October 20, 2023
As the cold season approaches, the circulation of flu viruses becomes more frequent, prompting health authorities in Switzerland to start offering flu vaccinations this week. Infectiologists are closely monitoring the influenza activity in the southern hemisphere, as it can provide insights into the potential flu trends in the northern hemisphere during the upcoming winter.
Australia, which experiences its flu season during the southern hemisphere’s winter (which is our summer), had an intense flu season this year that started earlier than usual. The peak of influenza cases in the country mirrored the levels seen in 2019, considered Australia’s strongest flu year. This raises concerns about a possible severe flu wave in the northern hemisphere.
However, Professor Jan Fehr, an infectiologist at the University of Zurich, advises caution in directly linking the flu trends between the two hemispheres. Various factors such as the timing of the cold season, immunity to influenza, and other respiratory viruses, as well as individual regional differences, play an important role.
Fehr also notes that the COVID-19 measures implemented during the pandemic, including social distancing and hand hygiene, had a significant impact on reducing flu cases in Switzerland and worldwide. Now that these measures are relaxed, regional differences in flu activity may increase again.
The recent flu season in Australia revealed a distinctive pattern, with children being disproportionately affected. Referred to as “kindy flu,” a significant number of children required hospitalization due to influenza infections. Fehr explains that the pandemic protective measures prevented children from building partial immunity to influenza or other respiratory viruses, and their close contact during playtime facilitated the rapid spread of the flu virus.
To mitigate the impact of the flu, adults in Switzerland are encouraged to get vaccinated. The flu vaccine needs to be adjusted annually to account for changes in virus strains. While the World Health Organization determines which strains to include in the vaccine for the northern hemisphere before the flu season in Australia, the success rate of the vaccine remains uncertain.
In addition to the flu, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has also garnered attention due to an unusually early and strong season in Switzerland. However, experts have not observed any signs of an impending RSV surge. Although it is difficult to make predictions for the coming winter, experts believe that this year’s RSV numbers might not be as high as last year, as some level of immunity was developed by children during the previous season.
As the new flu season approaches, the focus is on mitigating the impact and protecting vulnerable populations. The availability of the flu vaccine in Switzerland offers an opportunity to reduce the severity of flu cases. However, experts emphasize that vigilance and adherence to preventive measures, including hand hygiene and distancing, remain essential in curbing the spread of influenza and other respiratory viruses.
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