SIC News Interview
The investigator of Gulbenkian Institute of Molecular MedicineMiguel Castanho, believes that the peak of the flu should occur shortly after the end of the year. Warning, however, for the Christmas period, when there will be more risky contacts between families.
Portugal is facing an early and intense wave of flu, caused mainly by the H3N2 strain, with a peak expected after the end of year festivities, according to data collected by the researcher Miguel Castanho. Simultaneously, the remains active, although overshadowed by the flu, continuing to circulate and requiring surveillance of the same risk groups.
“Although it is not possible to say exactly when the peak will appear, it is plausible that it will be after the end of the year, whichMay there be an ascent to the festivities and then there is a descent”.
The flu is on the rise, with Christmas comes the mobility of people, more contacts especially in closed environments, “All the conditions that are necessary to accelerate transmissions and therefore the greatest number of cases.”
Flu arrived earlier and more intensely than usual
Miguel Castanho explains that to Early arrival is due to decreased natural immunity against this strain and mutations of the virus that slightly reduced the effectiveness of the vaccine.
“On the one hand, the dominant strain is now H3N2. We hadn’t been in contact with H3N2 for a few years now, because in recent years it wasn’t this type of flu virus, it was another type of flu and, therefore, our natural immunity was somewhat diminished in relation to this specific strain (…) NDuring this period, the virus changed a little, a new subtype was formed, so the virus deviated a little from what was predicted and this increased transmissions a little, decreased a little, just slightly, the effectiveness of the vaccine and these two factors, above all, will have contributed or will be contributing to this anticipated wave of flu”.
Groups of the most affected age groups
Os most affected groups are children and the elderly, people who have chronic illnesses, especially those who, for some reason, have a weaker immune system.
Vaccination is recommended for healthy people who care for risk groups “especially children up to six months old, because they cannot be vaccinated. And older people, more susceptible to the action of the virus, these are the groups at highest risk and that is also why they are the groups recommended for vaccination.”
Then there are some more special groups, like people, for example, who are in great contact with birds. “We are a little neglecting the importance that bird flu among birds has for humans.”
Covid-19 remains “among us and will not disappear”
The researcher also warns that we must be aware of Covid-19 just as we are aware of the flu. This winter, in particular, the flu is taking over, but Covid-19 is still there, it’s out there and it’s not going away.
“She’s out there, she’s among us. Of course, when the flu comes more into the spotlight we talk less about Covid-19, but Covid-19 continues, it circulates, we have spikes (…) although it is hidden, it is in the shadow of the flu, but Covid-19 continues, it is among us and it will not disappear”.
