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Spike in flu cases
By Monica Kotwani | Posted: 19 January 2011 2051 hrs
SINGAPORE: Flu cases in the second week of the year have crossed the epidemic threshold of 17,032.
The Health Ministry said the number of acute upper respiratory illnesses seen by polyclinics between January 9 and 15, rose to 18,377.
That worked out to a daily average of more than 3,300 cases.
This is in contrast to the 16,630 cases seen during the same period last year.
The ministry said the Influenza A-H1N1 strain is the predominant virus making its rounds, followed by the Influenza A H3N2, and Influenza B strains.
But the strain is not deemed to be any more severe or virulent.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that the H1N1 virus has not become more severe or virulent.
It is still behaving like it did during the pandemic in 2009 and is similar to the strain used in the current influenza vaccine.
The current influenza vaccine contains the three most common circulating influenza strains world-wide.
MOH added it's common for flu cases to peak during this period, which coincides with the winter season in the Northern hemisphere.
Singapore typically experiences two flu seasons, the first one from January to February and the second from May to June, which coincide with the peaks of influenza activities in winter in countries in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
MOH has advised those who are most vulnerable, such as the elderly, children, and those with chronic illnesses, to get themselves vaccinated and practise good hygiene.
By Monica Kotwani | Posted: 19 January 2011 2051 hrs
SINGAPORE: Flu cases in the second week of the year have crossed the epidemic threshold of 17,032.
The Health Ministry said the number of acute upper respiratory illnesses seen by polyclinics between January 9 and 15, rose to 18,377.
That worked out to a daily average of more than 3,300 cases.
This is in contrast to the 16,630 cases seen during the same period last year.
The ministry said the Influenza A-H1N1 strain is the predominant virus making its rounds, followed by the Influenza A H3N2, and Influenza B strains.
But the strain is not deemed to be any more severe or virulent.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that the H1N1 virus has not become more severe or virulent.
It is still behaving like it did during the pandemic in 2009 and is similar to the strain used in the current influenza vaccine.
The current influenza vaccine contains the three most common circulating influenza strains world-wide.
MOH added it's common for flu cases to peak during this period, which coincides with the winter season in the Northern hemisphere.
Singapore typically experiences two flu seasons, the first one from January to February and the second from May to June, which coincide with the peaks of influenza activities in winter in countries in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
MOH has advised those who are most vulnerable, such as the elderly, children, and those with chronic illnesses, to get themselves vaccinated and practise good hygiene.
