Shanxi health authorities report spike in flu cases

Health authorities in Shanxi province have reported a continued rise in acute respiratory infections as the country enters the peak of the autumn-winter season, China Central Television reported on Saturday.

Influenza activity has markedly risen over the past three weeks, with most reported cases occurring among students. The number of infections is expected to continue to increase during the coming period, according to the Shanxi Provincial Health Commission.

Chen Jing, deputy director of the Shanxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that during this flu season the dominant strain in the province is influenza A (H3N2), which accounts for about 99 percent of all reported cases. Smaller numbers of the influenza A (H1N1) and influenza B viruses are also circulating, it reported.

A(H3N2), a subtype of influenza A virus, has undergone minor genetic variations compared to the H1N1 strain, however, there has been no significant alteration in its transmission routes or infectiousness.

Typical symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, generalized muscle aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some patients may experience diarrhea and vomiting, and, in severe cases, can develop complications such as pneumonia and respiratory failure.

Medical experts are urging the public to seek an accurate diagnosis, as different respiratory pathogens require specific treatments.

The commission is using a province-wide surveillance network for influenza and multiple respiratory pathogens to improve trend analysis and risk assessment. Medical institutions have been instructed to set up emergency mechanisms for reallocating staff and beds to keep services running smoothly.

Since the end of October, all public secondary and tertiary general hospitals in Shanxi have established pediatric outpatient services. A provincial pediatric care network and 15 municipal medical alliances have been created to streamline referrals and ensure timely treatment for critically ill children, according to the report.