Severe cases of influenza still exceed 100! The epidemic period will be observed for another 2 weeks, and the expansion of publicly funded antiviral drugs will be extended by 3 degrees.

The influenza epidemic has cooled down for several consecutive weeks. The CDC originally expected to declare the epidemic out of the epidemic this week. However, Lin Mingcheng, deputy director of the CDC, said that because the number of severe influenza complications last week was still high, exceeding 100, the CDC will not declare the epidemic out of the epidemic this week and will observe it for another two weeks. In addition, the conditions for the use of influenza antiviral drugs have been extended for the third time, extending the period for half a month until November 30.

Li Jialin, deputy director of the CDC Epidemic Center, said that in the 44th week, there were 91,879 influenza-like outpatient and emergency visits, a decrease of 6.4% from the previous week. The epidemic still maintains a cooling trend, but there were still 103 new severe cases of influenza and 38 deaths last week. Since October this year, there have been a total of 645 severe cases and 124 deaths.

Lin Mingcheng said that the domestic influenza epidemic has declined for 7 consecutive weeks and has been below the epidemic threshold for 2 consecutive weeks. The CDC originally expected to announce that it is out of the epidemic period this week. However, considering that the number of severe influenza cases last week still exceeded 100, and severe illness and death are lagging indicators of the epidemic, they have not shown a stable downward trend as the epidemic cools down. After comprehensively considering the epidemic indicators, the CDC will not announce that it is out of the epidemic period and will observe it for another 2 weeks.

In addition, Lin Mingcheng emphasized that the CDC will continue to observe the trend of severe cases, community virus isolation rate and other indicators in the future, and will judge whether to declare the end of the epidemic period after two weeks. The threat of the epidemic has not been eliminated yet, and calls on all walks of life to still pay attention to prevention and control work. Those who are eligible for public vaccination must be vaccinated as soon as possible, and the public should also pay attention to implementing daily protective measures.

Lin Yongqing, an epidemic prevention physician at the CDC, said that among the severe cases announced this week, there is a 60-year-old southern woman who has multiple chronic medical histories such as high blood pressure and stroke and has been bedridden for a long time. She has not been vaccinated against this season's influenza vaccine. She had a fever for several days in late October this year, intermittent dyspnea, and low blood oxygen. An emergency medical test found an increase in white blood cells in her blood and urine, and her chest X-ray showed pneumonia.

Lin Yongqing said that the case was confirmed to be positive for type A influenza through rapid screening, and was diagnosed with type A influenza complicated by pneumonia and urinary tract infection. Antibiotics and influenza antiviral drugs were prescribed and hospitalized. However, the case’s pneumonia did not improve during hospitalization, and bacteremia, respiratory failure and shock occurred. Unfortunately, he passed away in early November. He was hospitalized for about 11 days. The cause of death was influenza complicated by severe pneumonia and urinary tract infection.

Lin Yongqing reminded the public that in addition to receiving vaccinations, they must also implement hand hygiene and cough etiquette.