Influenza 2016: how to avoid getting infected?

Autumn is already on the doorstep, which means that seasonal diseases are making themselves known. Let's study the features of the flu this year, methods of treatment and prevention, as well as the main symptoms of the disease.

The information that the virus is mutating has been on everyone's lips for several years now. The best WHO specialists are studying its types, analyzing and predicting which strain will make itself known in the autumn-winter period and will become a real test for human health.

Every year, people with low immunity suffer from seasonal infectious and viral diseases. The main danger of the disease is that the virus is subject to frequent mutations. Every 10-20 years, the epidemiological situation changes dramatically and is complicated by a complete modification of the strain. But this does not mean that the symptoms of the disorder change dramatically. As a rule, more dangerous symptoms are added to the already "classic" signs.

In 2015-2016, epidemiologists expect flu outbreaks in November-January. This means that scheduled vaccinations will be carried out in September-October. But for this season, experts predict a stable situation even in the first months of cold weather. Therefore, there is an excellent chance to prepare for the infection and neutralize it.

Flu Season 2016 – Hidden Danger

Doctors do not predict catastrophic outbreaks of flu for the coming season. But this does not mean that there is no need to prevent the disease. Since the virus is rightfully considered the most dangerous among known viral infections. The disease poses the greatest danger to people with chronic respiratory diseases and a weakened immune system. The risk group includes the elderly, pregnant women and children.

In 2016, analysts predict insignificant activity of previously known strains:

• A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09 is a subtype of swine flu that became known in 2009. It was this virus that caused the epidemic all over the world. The greatest danger is complications, which very often lead to death. The infection can cause sinusitis, pneumonia, and even inflammation of the meninges.
• A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2) is a subtype of strain A. Its danger lies in complications that pathologically affect the cardiovascular system.
• B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata) and B/Brisbane/60/2008 – subtype B strain, refers to poorly studied viruses. The disease is difficult to diagnose due to vague symptoms. But doctors do not consider it dangerous, as it does not cause life-threatening complications.

Solving the flu problem is also significantly complicated by the fact that the symptoms that appear at its early stage can be observed in other diseases. Under the guise of influenza infection there can be: tonsillitis, food poisoning, typhoid fever, rheumatism, dysentery, tuberculosis and other disorders. Flu-like respiratory tract lesions are known, which proceed like influenza, but are caused by completely different viruses.

Today, eight families of such viruses are known, including the common cold viruses, adenoviruses, parainfluenza viruses, and IPC viruses. Diseases caused by such an infection resemble real flu. To determine the true pathogen that caused the outbreak, antibody testing is carried out.

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Flu 2015-2016: High-Risk Groups

Any disease has certain risk groups among people who are predisposed to infection. Since influenza infection is a respiratory disease caused by viruses, its main danger is a high level of contagiousness, severe course and a lot of complications. If treated incorrectly or not at all, the disease can be fatal.

Consider who is at risk for influenza infection:

• Newborn babies

Babies lack immunity, which significantly increases the risk of infection. The situation is complicated by the fact that routine vaccinations are not carried out until six months. To prevent the disease, it is recommended to follow preventive measures. So, if the child is breastfed, the mother should be vaccinated. This will allow the baby to receive antibodies through milk. Everyone who comes into contact with the child should also be vaccinated. If any family member has symptoms of infection, any contact with the newborn is contraindicated.

• Pregnant women

The immune system is weakened due to hormonal changes caused by fetal development. Flu 2016 in pregnant women is dangerous both for the woman herself and for her child. The most severe consequence of the disease is premature birth. If a woman suffers the disease on her feet, this can lead to the development of various defects in the fetus, even a miscarriage is possible. These processes can be prevented by timely vaccination and preventive measures.

• Elderly people

The risk of infection is caused by a number of factors, primarily a large number of chronic diseases and a natural decrease in immunity. Mistrust of vaccination has a detrimental effect.

In addition to the above categories, those at risk include people with chronic illnesses and disabilities, patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, asthmatics, patients with chronic lung, kidney and liver disease, as well as people with developmental delays and mental disorders.

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World Flu 2016 is already on the doorstep

Mixovirus influenzae, or flu virus, is a member of the Orthomyxoviridae family and has three forms: A, B, C. Types A and B are found in humans. Virus A is the main source of the flu epidemic, and type B provokes milder forms of the disease. The infection is determined by antigenic properties, that is, to differentiate types A and B, a solution of matrix protein antigens and non-cleoprotein antigens are used.

Let's look at the main clinical signs of viruses and their stages (found all over the world):

Virus	Symptoms	Form of gravity	Severity assessment	Features of the flow
A B C	Intoxication of the body, headaches, chills, convulsive syndrome, catarrhal phenomena.	Easy	The temperature is subfebrile, signs of intoxication are weakly expressed.	Without complications, mild course.
	Pathological changes in the bronchopulmonary system (hemorrhagic edema, bronchitis, segmental edema).	Medium-heavy	Body temperature 38.5-39.5°C, symptoms of intoxication are expressed (headaches and muscle pain, adynamia, dizziness). In rare cases, abdominal syndrome and segmental edema are possible.	Complications associated with the virus (neuritis, encephalitis, etc.) are possible.
		Heavy	Body temperature reaches critical values of 40-40.5°C. Loss of consciousness, delirium, convulsions, hallucinations, nausea and vomiting are possible.	Characterized by bacterial complications (otitis, purulent-necrotic laryngotracheobronchitis, pneumonia, bronchitis)
	Immunofluorescence and immunoenzyme analysis have positive results.	Hypertoxic	Hyperthermic syndrome; meningoencephalitic syndrome; hemorrhagic syndrome

World statistics indicate that about 15% of humanity suffers from influenza every year. It is this disease that causes irreversible damage to the structures of the brain and cardiovascular system. The European Center for Disease Control and Prevention predicts low infection activity for the coming year. But isolated cases of infection are possible, which can be prevented by timely vaccination.

Flu epidemic 2016

The onset of the flu epidemic is predicted for January-February 2016. There is still enough time to consider prevention options or get vaccinated. A sharp increase in the incidence rate is possible in November-December of this year. The danger of the disease is that only limited resources are required to eliminate it.

Every year, more than 200 thousand people die from the disease and its complications. Since the infection occurs through airborne droplets, the flu occurs in the form of epidemics, that is, sudden outbreaks that spread quickly and suddenly. In particularly acute periods, up to 50-70% of the entire population can be infected.

To prevent the catastrophic scale of the disease, it is recommended to carry out prevention. Today, vaccination is considered the most effective. This method not only reduces the mortality rate and maintains health, but also has a significant economic effect. This is due to the fact that the economic damage from the infection of one person by the virus is more than $ 100, and the cost of vaccination is 6-8 times lower than the losses from the disease.

For the 2015-2016 season, the composition of influenza vaccines has been updated in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization. Two strains have been replaced in the vaccine and now it protects against three most common viruses that cause severe complications.

Strain composition of influenza vaccines:

• A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09
• A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2)-like virus
• B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus

The following are subject to mandatory vaccination free of charge: children from 6 months, schoolchildren, students, workers in the medical, educational, transport and utility sectors. As well as pregnant women, patients over 60 years old, persons subject to conscription for military service and people with chronic diseases. The procedure is allowed to be carried out simultaneously with other vaccinations, except for vaccination against tuberculosis.

Flu 2016 in Russia

According to the forecasts of the Federal Health Service, the increase in the incidence of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections will begin in January 2016. February will be unfavorable, since a moderate-intensity epidemic is expected. According to preliminary estimates of the WHO, the following strains will predominate in Russia in 2016: AH1N1, AH3N2 and influenza B. These strains became the basis of the vaccine "Grippol Plus", which is going to vaccinate Russians.

In all districts, the incidence rate is monitored to prevent an epidemic. Flu is dangerous due to the development of complications, the most unfavorable of which is pneumonia. Today, this complication occupies a leading position among infectious diseases. Particular attention is paid to informing the population at the regional level.

Quarantine and restrictive measures have been developed in medical institutions. Additional hospital beds have been prepared for the duration of the epidemic and drugs have been purchased, which will allow timely hospitalization of patients in infectious disease departments and the beginning of therapy.

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Flu 2016 in Ukraine

The World Health Organization has published a forecast of the circulation of flu virus strains in this epidemic season for the northern hemisphere, which will most likely affect Ukraine. According to the data received, the composition of the viruses has been updated, so people with a weakened immune system need vaccination.

For 2015-2016, it is recommended to use vaccines against the following strains:

• A/California/7/2009(H1N1)pdm09
• A/Switzerland/9715293/2013#01
• B/Phuket/3073/2013

Last epidemic season, about 5.4 million cases of influenza infection were registered. At the same time, about 13% of the entire population fell ill with ARVI, 49% of them were children under 16 years old. The Ukrainian Center for Disease Control and Monitoring regularly analyzes the immune layer of the population. The latest information indicates insufficient immunological protection of Ukrainians, which threatens an epidemic state and dangerous complications of influenza.

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Flu Symptoms 2016: Forewarned is Forearmed

The clinical signs of influenza and ARVI have much in common due to damage to the respiratory tract and general toxic symptoms. Influenza is an acute, contagious disease with moderate catarrhal symptoms and severe toxicosis. The greatest damage occurs to the trachea and large bronchi. Symptoms vary and depend on the immune status of the patient's body and age, as well as the type of virus and its strain.

In 2015-2016, there may be both uncomplicated and complicated forms of the disease. The incubation period can last from several hours to 1-5 days. After this, acute clinical manifestations begin. The severity of any form depends on the severity and duration of intoxication and catarrhal symptoms.

Intoxication

The main symptom that appears in the first hours of infection. The disease begins with a sharp increase in temperature, from subfebrile values to hyperthermia. If the disease is mild, the temperature is not high. The severity of intoxication is shown by the level of fever. When infected with the A (H1N1) virus, the symptoms of intoxication are weakly expressed even at a very high body temperature.

• Temperature – acute and short-lived. The fever period lasts 2-6 days, after which the temperature decreases. If it persists for a long period of time, it indicates complications.
• Headache – unpleasant sensations arise in the frontal and supraorbital region, intensifying with eyeball movement. The severity of pain may vary, but, as a rule, it is moderate. Severe pain is accompanied by sleep disturbances, vomiting attacks and adverse symptoms from the central nervous system.
• General weakness – this symptom also refers to the intoxication syndrome. Fatigue, increased sweating, and a feeling of exhaustion appear. The patient complains of muscle and joint pain, aches throughout the body, and especially in the lumbosacral region.
• Appearance: the patient's face appears reddened, conjunctivitis, photophobia and lacrimation are possible.

Catarrhal syndrome

Another leading symptom of influenza infection. But, as a rule, it recedes into the background, and in some cases is absent. The duration of catarrhal syndrome is 7-10 days, but the cough can persist longer.

• Oropharynx - redness of the soft palate with demarcation from the hard palate is observed. By the 3rd day of the disease, the redness changes to a vascular network. If the disease is severe, small hemorrhages and cyanosis appear on the soft palate. The mucous membrane is restored on the 7-8th day of treatment.
• Nasopharynx - the mucous membrane of the nose is hyperemic, dry, edematous. The nasal conchae are swollen, which significantly complicates breathing. These symptoms occur on the 2nd-3rd day of the disease and are accompanied by nasal discharge. In the case of toxic damage to the vascular walls and intense sneezing, nosebleeds may occur.
• Cough, tracheobronchitis, laryngitis - painful sensations behind the breastbone, dry cough. If the flu is uncomplicated, the cough lasts 5-6 days. In addition, rapid breathing, sore throat, hoarseness, wheezing appear.

• Cardiovascular system – changes are caused by toxic damage to the heart muscle. When the temperature rises, the heart rate increases, which is accompanied by pale skin. After this, lethargy, slow pulse and reddening of the skin appear.
• Digestive system – changes are not pronounced. There is a decrease in appetite, constipation, deterioration of intestinal peristalsis. A white coating appears on the tongue, intestinal upset is possible.
• Urinary system - since viruses are excreted from the body through the kidneys, this leads to damage to the kidney tissue. Protein and blood elements appear in urine tests.
• CNS – toxic reactions from the nervous system lead to severe headaches, drowsiness, anxiety, convulsions and loss of consciousness. Meningeal symptoms occur in rare cases.

If the flu is extremely severe, complications can lead to cerebral edema and other pathologies. The fulminant form of influenza infection poses a serious risk of death. Patients with chronic diseases and a weakened immune system are at risk. This form causes pulmonary and cerebral edema, various bleedings, severe respiratory failure and other complications.

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Features of flu 2016

Despite the fact that the season of acute infectious diseases has just begun, medical statistics are terrifying. The peculiarity of the 2016 flu is that already in the first week of the new year the disease affected about 125 thousand people. But the most terrible thing is the increase in the number of fatal cases.

The disease is caused by the AH1N1 flu virus, which first appeared in 2009. The average incidence rate of swine flu is 570 patients per 10,000 people. In Ukraine, the highest incidence rate is recorded in the Kyiv and Odessa regions, while the lowest incidence rate is in the Zakarpattia and Ternopil regions. This strain is also raging in Russia.

Since the infection is constantly mutating, this significantly complicates the process of diagnosis and treatment. Due to the epidemiological situation, many cities are introducing an enhanced anti-epidemic regime. Schools and kindergartens are closed for quarantine, infectious disease hospitals are overcrowded, and a mask regime is introduced. All efforts are focused on informing the population about the dangerous disease and the peculiarities of its prevention.

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What is the difference between a cold and the flu?

Many people believe that flu is a synonym for a cold. As soon as the temperature rises, a runny nose and cough appear, patients immediately diagnose themselves with flu. Of course, this approach is completely wrong. It is very important to understand the difference between these diseases. A cold is a mild disease with mild symptoms. Flu and its complications can cause pneumonia and death.

Influenza infection is a viral disease that is accompanied by high fever, muscle and joint pain, weakness. A cold is a broader concept, consisting of a complex of symptoms that are caused by both bacteria and viruses. That is, to treat the flu, you need a special medicine, and with a cold, you need to determine the type of disease and only then prescribe therapy.

• A cold develops slowly, usually with malaise, while flu develops with a sharp rise in temperature and increased weakness.
• A cold can be of either viral or bacterial etiology; influenza is an acute viral infection.
• Bacteriological tests are used to diagnose influenza, and laboratory tests are used to confirm a cold.
• As a rule, a cold has a favorable outcome, but the flu, especially severe and advanced forms, leads to complications and even death.

Flu, acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections are colds that have common symptoms but differ in the nature of their course and duration.

Symptoms	Flu	Other ARVI
Time from infection to first signs	From 1-2 hours to 2-5 days	2-7 days
Onset of the disease	Rapidly, headache, chills, weakness appear.	Gradually, a runny nose, cough, and slight weakness appear.
Temperature	>38.5C	<38.5C
Painful symptoms	General malaise and fever, muscle pain.	Upper respiratory tract lesions (cough, wheezing).
Complications	Often	Extremely rare

As a rule, the incidence of colds increases from the end of August and lasts until spring. Flu is characterized by epidemiological outbreaks in December-February.

How to treat flu 2016?

At the first symptoms of illness, it is very important to react correctly and prevent the development of infection. Flu treatment is a set of procedures that allow you to destroy the virus and restore normal functioning of the body with minimal complications.

Let's look at the algorithm that should be followed in case of influenza infection:

• Bed rest

The disease cannot be carried on your feet, so during this period it is necessary to stay in bed and sleep more. But do not forget that the disease is not a reason to spend time watching TV or at the computer.

• Drinking regime

During illness, there is increased sweating, which can lead to dehydration. Therefore, to maintain water-salt balance, it is necessary to consume a sufficient amount of liquid (herbal teas, juices, fruit drinks, clean water).

• Climate in the apartment

It is necessary to regularly carry out wet cleaning in the room, as a humid climate helps to cope with the disease more easily. Ventilation of the room will help to remove accumulated microbes and viruses. In addition, fresh air promotes recovery and improves well-being. You can use various aroma lamps with essential oils or salt lamps that kill microbes.

• Nutrition

Despite the fact that in the first days of the disease the appetite is significantly reduced, proper nutrition will enrich the body and weakened immune system with vitamins and nutrients. Food should be light, the diet should be dominated by porridge, soups, boiled meat, fruits and vegetables.

• Vitamins

They help to keep the body in good shape and eliminate the symptoms of the disease faster. Vitamin complexes – Vitrum and Supradin – have a good immunomodulatory effect.

In addition to the above-described treatment methods, there is also drug therapy. Taking medications should be conscious and recommended by the attending physician. Taking pills on your own is contraindicated. Today, there is no shortage of drugs to eliminate viral and colds. Let's consider their classification by common features.

Medicines for symptomatic therapy

The drugs in this category only eliminate the symptoms of the disease: high temperature, muscle and headaches, nasal congestion, cough. Such pills do not affect the virus, so they should be used as a secondary remedy.

• Painkillers and antipyretics – have an analgesic effect, relieve muscle and joint pain.
• Vasoconstrictors – help relieve nasal congestion, swelling of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and nasal sinuses.
• Antihistamines – reduce swelling of the mucous membranes, eliminate inflammation, lacrimation and itching. Most often, patients are prescribed: Chlorphenamine, Promethazine.

The above-described drugs do not eliminate the viral infection, but alleviate its symptoms. The duration of therapy is 3-5 days.

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Drugs that affect the immune system and the virus

These drugs are prescribed only after the cause of the disease and the type of virus have been established. Antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs destroy the virus and prevent the possibility of the pathogen developing. Drugs in this category are classified by their mechanism of action:

• Neuraminidase inhibitors - stop the spread of infection in the body, reduce the risk of complications. Most often, patients are prescribed: Oseltamivir and Zanamivir.
• Interferon inducers – combine well with other antiviral agents and enhance their effect. Promote the production of proteins in the body that suppress infection. Effective as a preventive measure during flu epidemics. This category includes: Cycloferon, Arbidol, Amiksin.
• M2 viral protein blockers are antiviral agents of type A. They are prescribed very rarely, as they have many side effects: Rimantadine, Amantadine
• In addition to the above-described means, there are also antiviral drugs, let's consider them:
• Homeopathic medicines – Aflubin, Anaferon, Arbidol, Antigrippin.
• Immunostimulating agents – Coldenflu, Imudon, Kagocel, Amiksin.
• Antitussives – Azts, Lazolvan, Codelac, Libexin, Sinekod.
• To relieve sore throat and runny nose - Faringosept, Strepsils, Nazivin, Naphthyzinum, Sinupret.
• Antiviral powders – Coldact, Lemsip, Nurofen, Panadol, Tamaflu, Codelmixt.

Any medications aimed at treating a viral disease should be prescribed by a doctor. Their independent use can cause serious side effects on all organs and systems, which will aggravate the course of the underlying disease.

Read also:

• The most modern remedies for flu
• Treatment of flu with folk methods
• Home Remedies for Flu: Which Ones to Choose?

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Complications of flu 2016

AH1N1 or swine flu struck the world in 2009, taking many human lives. This year, a mutated strain has emerged, which has also caused fatalities. Its danger lies in its rapid spread, especially in rainy and damp weather. Since this winter is living according to the weather of autumn, this is precisely what can explain the current epidemiological situation.

The danger of the virus is in its complications. Flu 2016 causes viral pneumonia that is not sensitive to antibiotics. The disease quickly affects the lungs and vascular system, causing swelling that can lead to death within 24 hours. The prerequisites for secondary infection are associated with a weakened immune system. Due to the severe inflammatory process, it is unable to fight new pathologies.

Signs of secondary infection in those who have had the flu vary depending on the general condition of the body and the bacteria that caused the pathology. But the symptom that is characteristic of all (appears on the 3rd-6th day of illness) is the second wave of fever. It is from this moment that the patient's life depends on the effectiveness of treatment.

Let's look at the most common complications of the 2016 flu:

• Pneumonia – the danger of pneumonia is that it appears suddenly, when it seems that the disease has retreated. High body temperature of 39-40 °C is accompanied by chills, chest pain, cough with phlegm and blood.
• Sinusitis is a long-term inflammatory process in the nasopharynx that causes severe headaches and changes in voice. Redness of the skin and discharge of pus from the sinuses are possible.
• Otitis - this complication occurs in both children and adults. There is severe pain in the ears with sharp shooting pains that intensify during conversation, eating or pressing on the ear.

With timely medical care, these bacterial complications can be quickly eliminated. A wide range of antibiotics and vitamin therapy are used for treatment.

More dangerous complications:

• Hypertoxic pneumonia - many experts classify this pathology as a type of flu, but in fact it is its consequence. The body temperature exceeds the threshold of 40˚C, accompanied by neurotoxicosis, convulsions, hallucinations, nosebleeds. It is this pathology that is the main cause of fatal cases in flu.
• Reye's syndrome - usually occurs in pediatric patients under 12 years of age. It occurs due to the use of aspirin during therapy, which destroys the functioning of the liver and central nervous system. In half of the cases, this leads to death. The first symptoms appear on the 5th-6th day of the disease. Children begin to have convulsions, breathing problems, increased drowsiness, apathy, coma. The only prevention of this pathology is to refuse aspirin during the treatment of viral infections.
• Guillain-Barré syndrome is another complication that is most common in children. It makes itself known 1-2 weeks after the flu. The child suffers from muscle pain, increased weakness, irregular heartbeat and blood pressure, and kidney problems. The main reason for the disorder is that the body produces antibodies to its own nervous system cells that have been infected with the virus. The acute period lasts for a month, and full recovery will take years. Without timely medical care, the child is at risk of paralysis and even death.

Another group of flu complications is damage to the brain and central nervous system. The risk group includes children, people with a predisposition to brain disorders, pregnant women and elderly patients.

• Meningitis - severe headaches appear in combination with vomiting and increased muscle tone of the back of the head and neck. In particularly severe cases, the patient throws his head back. The prognosis of the pathology depends on the results of diagnostics, but, as a rule, is unfavorable.
• Encephalitis is a flu infection that affects the cerebral cortex and blood vessels of the brain. It develops in the acute stage of flu, that is, in the first days. Against this background, high temperature, convulsions, loss of consciousness and even speech disorders appear. It can lead to paralysis or paresis.
• Arachnoiditis - this complication has a latent nature, as it can appear a couple of months or even a year after the flu infection. Its slow progression is characterized by increasing symptoms. Patients complain of frequent headaches, nausea, tinnitus, increased fatigue. Epileptic seizures appear, visual acuity and hearing decrease. Most often, arachnoiditis is detected during differential diagnostics with oncology.

The above-described pathologies are only a small part of what flu can lead to. A cause for concern should be unexpectedly occurring symptoms that are not typical for a viral infection. At the first signs of a pathological condition, you should seek medical help. After a comprehensive examination, the doctor will determine the reality of the threat of complications.

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How to prevent flu this 2015-2016 season?

Many preventive measures are used to prevent influenza. But special attention is paid to vaccination, which is a specific immunoprophylaxis.

Today, there are three generations of vaccines - whole-virion, split, subunit. They contain viral antigens, which allows the body to develop protection. But this method has a number of disadvantages. Vaccination is done against one virus, so if another type appears during an epidemic, the vaccination will not protect and you will have to vaccinate again. Do not forget about those cases when vaccination caused a number of negative consequences. Therefore, this method is a personal choice for everyone.

Read also: Flu vaccination

Common methods of preventing infection:

• Strengthening the immune system – for preventive purposes, it is recommended to take immunostimulating drugs and harden the body.
• Vitamin therapy – natural vitamins found in fresh vegetables, fruits and greens are excellent for strengthening the immune system’s protective properties.
• Hygiene – after visiting the street, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and clean your nose with a sea salt solution.
• Avoid crowded places – during the epidemic, avoid visiting public places and transport. To prevent infection, wear a cotton-gauze bandage.
• Healthy indoor climate – regularly carry out wet cleaning and airing. If you have a humidifier, aroma lamp or salt lamp, use them, they kill germs in the room and freshen the air.

Flu 2016 is a seasonal illness, for which you can prepare. Carrying out basic preventive measures will help protect against acute viral infection.

Influenza fatality rate in 2016

According to official data, about 30 people have died from influenza infection in Ukraine this year. The mortality rate from influenza in 2016 is many times higher than the previous period. Since the beginning of the epidemic season, that is, from October 1, 2015 to the present day, about 2.5 million cases of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections have been recorded. About 4% of all patients were hospitalized, most of whom were children under 17 years old - 75%.

The seriousness of the situation is aggravated by a sharp increase in mortality. Swine flu (California strain) is prevalent this season. 80% of deaths are related to late seeking of medical care (on the 5th-6th day). This indicates that many people do not follow basic preventive recommendations.

Today, it is difficult to predict the scale and lethality of the flu epidemic. Therefore, at the first signs of the disease, it is necessary to seek medical help. In order to prevent the pathology and its complications, it is very important to carry out prevention:

1. Always wash your hands – in most cases, infection occurs through contact. Harmful microorganisms can live on the surface of contaminated objects for several hours or even weeks. Disinfect your hands after using public transport and other crowded places.
2. Limit alcohol and nicotine consumption – smokers and alcoholics are the ones who most often get the flu and have its complications. Tobacco smoke dries out the nasal passages and paralyzes the ciliated epithelium, which begins to let the infection into the body. Passive smoking is also dangerous, as it reduces the status of the immune system.
3. Drink plenty of fluids, do exercises and breathe fresh air. Regular airing of the room and walks in the fresh air strengthen the body. Physical exercise accelerates the oxygen exchange between the circulatory system and the lungs, which helps remove toxins.

It is worth remembering that flu is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases today. And even if the disease is not severe, it can cause serious consequences.