Mask up and wash your hands often. An increase in case numbers of flu has been identified in all five provinces where surveillance is conducted. Stock photo.There has been a steady increase in the number of influenza cases from the week starting August 23, with a sharp increase in the week beginning November 1 in a number of surveillance sites, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases said on Wednesday.
The NICD said as of the week ending November 7, the total number of influenza cases detected by the syndromic sentinel surveillance programmes conducted by the NICD has increased from 68 in week 34 to 226 at the beginning of November. The NICD said even though the detection rates for influenza in its surveillance programme exceeded previous seasonal thresholds, absolute numbers remained relatively low compared with previous years, possibly as a result of reduced health-seeking behaviour following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Cohen said the influenza vaccine remained the primary means for preventing seasonal infection and should ideally be administered before the flu season from March to April.