Flu activity in China rising, cases likely to peak soon

China's flu activity is rising to a high level and is expected to peak later this month, according to disease control authorities.

Wang Dayan, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, said on Friday that 17 provincial-level regions are currently reporting high flu activity, while the rest are at medium levels.

For the week starting Nov 24, about 51.1 percent of outpatient visits with influenza-like illnesses tested positive for flu, up slightly from 44.8 percent the previous week.

However, Wang noted that the level remains below the highest recorded over the past three years. She said reports of clustered infections in schools have continued to rise, with the detection rate among children aged 5 to 14 significantly higher than in other age groups.

"The number of infection clusters of this winter's flu season is markedly higher than the past season," she said.

The H3N2 subtype of influenza A remains dominant, accounting for more than 95 percent of the flu cases, while small numbers of the H1N1 subtype of influenza A and influenza B cases have also been detected.

"The peak of the flu season will likely arrive in early to mid-December," Wang said.

Data released by the China CDC also shows that the positivity rate of respiratory syncytial virus was 3.5 percent and that for rhinovirus was 5.3 percent. Both are trending downward but remain at noticeable levels.

Wang suggested that elderly people with chronic diseases, children and pregnant women minimize their time in crowded and poorly ventilated spaces and take appropriate personal health precautions.

She also urged the public, especially vulnerable groups, to get vaccinated as soon as possible to prevent infection and reduce the risk of severe diseases.

"Employers and organizations are encouraged to organize vaccination campaigns and cover expenses, and medical institutions are suggested to provide door-to-door vaccination services for employers with a large number of personnel," she said.

While patients experiencing mild symptoms only need to rest at home on catching the flu, Wang advised those experiencing fever above 39 C, violent coughing, breathing difficulties, severe pain, and other severe symptoms, as well as high-risk groups such as the elderly and infants, to visit hospitals promptly and take medications accordingly.

Data from the China CDC shows that the H3N2 flu virus in circulation remains sensitive to mainstream flu medications available in the market.