H1N1 flu may become dominant in new season in Belarus – expert

The epidemic season of respiratory infections begins with the 40th calendar week, when the activity of viruses that cause respiratory diseases increases. Such information during the press conference “Prevention of seasonal viral diseases: how to protect yourself and your loved ones” shared the head of the laboratory of influenza and influenza-like diseases of the Research Institute of Hygiene, Toxicology, Epidemiology, Virology and Microbiology of the Republican Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health Natalia Shmeleva.

- More than 200 viruses circulate in humans that can cause respiratory infections. Particular attention is paid to influenza, since its causative agent is highly variable and can provoke epidemic booms and pandemics. Since the 1970s, three influenza viruses have circulated simultaneously in the human population: H1N1, H3N2 and B. Their activity varies from season to season. In the past epidemic period, the country was dominated by the H3N2 virus, which appeared in the fall, but caused a rise in the incidence of the disease in the traditional timeframe - in late January and February. At the end of the season, the B/Victoria influenza virus was circulated.

Taking into account the active circulation of H3N2 last year, experts assume that in the new season its activity will be lower, and the H1N1 virus will become dominant. Influenza B viruses tend to turn on by the end of the season and form a second wave of incidence in late winter and spring. Currently, only the B/Victoria line circulates among influenza B viruses.

Vaccines used in the current season contain three or four components, added Natalia Shmeleva. Depending on this, they are divided into three- or four-valent. But there is no difference in relevance: the strain composition is identical, and the difference lies only in the number of viruses included. And three is enough, because it circulates so much.

Among the most common complications of influenza is the addition of bacterial infections, especially pneumococcal. Thus, influenza vaccination indirectly reduces the incidence of bacterial infections and reduces the need for antibiotics, which is important in the context of increasing antibiotic resistance. Influenza vaccines are safe and approved from the age of six months. The only contraindication is an allergy to chicken protein, since the preparations are grown on chicken embryos and may contain trace amounts of it. Vaccination is also not carried out during the exacerbation of chronic diseases. Seasonal rise of acute respiratory infections is traditionally expected in October - Ministry of Health Photos at the announcement: archive "SB"