On December 19, according to the 2024 Week 50 influenza monitoring report released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,the positive rate of influenza virus testing in both southern and northern provinces continues to rise.The A(H1N1)pdm09 subtype is predominant. A total of 114 influenza-like illness outbreaks have been reported nationwide.

Currently, vaccination against influenza and antiviral drug treatment remain effective measures against influenza.

The positive detection rate of influenza is close to10%, with an increasing trend in transmission.

This monitoring by the CDC involves respiratory samples collected from outpatient and emergency influenza-like cases and hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases in sentinel hospitals across the country (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan). After testing for various respiratory pathogens, the results show that,the incidence of acute respiratory infectious diseases is showing a sustained upward trend, with a significant recent increase in the positive rate of influenza virus.

The trend of positive rates for pathogen nucleic acid testing of respiratory samples from outpatient and emergency influenza-like cases in sentinel hospitals has gradually increased since Week40, reaching 10.8% by Week 49.

If categorized by region, the positive rate of nucleic acid testing for major pathogens in respiratory samples during Week49 reveals that among hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases,influenza virus ranks second among pathogens in northern provinces, while it ranks third in southern provinces.It is noteworthy that among outpatient and emergency influenza-like cases in southern provinces, Mycoplasma pneumoniae did not make it to the top three.

Overall, the positive rate of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in northern provinces shows a fluctuating decline, while the infection situation in southern provinces remains at a low level, with the main affected group beingschool-aged children aged 5 to 14.

The epidemic shows differences between the north and south, greatly influenced by climate and lifestyle factors. With the arrival of winter, the weather is gradually getting colder, and most respiratory pathogens have an extended survival time in the environment, increasing the risk of transmission of respiratory infectious diseases.

Millions of severe cases each year! It is recommended to get vaccinated against influenza.

Although the level of influenza activity this year is lower than the same period last year, vigilance against influenza should not be relaxed.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated thatinfluenza can lead to3 to 5 million severe cases globally each year, as well as 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory disease-related deaths. Vaccination against influenza is an effective measure to prevent influenza and reduce severe cases and deaths related to influenza.The CDC reminds that vulnerable groups with relatively weak immunity (such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and patients with chronic underlying diseases) should actively receive the latest vaccines for preventing respiratory infectious diseases, such as influenza vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, and pneumococcal vaccine, according to the applicable conditions for vaccination, especially as the level of influenza activity has recently increased, those eligible who have not received the influenza vaccine should get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Regarding the applicable age for vaccination,

in September 2024, the target population for the trivalent influenza vaccine from China National Pharmaceutical Group's Shanghai Institute of Biological Products has been expanded to include individuals aged 6 to 35 months, achieving a unified vaccination formulation for individuals aged 6 months and above in the country."All individuals aged 6 months and above without contraindications can receive the influenza vaccine, especially as the level of influenza activity has recently increased, those eligible who have not received the influenza vaccine should get vaccinated as soon as possible," the CDC has emphasized.

“所有6月龄及以上且无接种禁忌的人都可以接种流感疫苗，尤其是随着近期流感活动水平上升，未接种流感疫苗的适龄人群应尽早接种流感疫苗。”中疾控曾强调。