Influenza overtakes COVID today (30 Jan. ’23), MD. Manoon Leechawengwong, a specialist in respiratory diseases, critically ill patients, and elderly diseases Vichaiyut Hospital Revealed through a personal Facebook page that During this period, the spread of COVID-19 has decreased dramatically while the flu virus has increased. It was the first time that the number of influenza patients who were treated in Vichaiyut Hospital Surpassing COVID patients in 3 years
Dr. Manoon raised the case of a 16-year-old male patient who had cough for 2 days, fever, body aches, sore throat, slight runny nose for 1 day, not tired. ATK test at home showed negative results. Check vaccination history against COVID-19 It is a 4-dose Pfizer vaccine infected with the COVID virus in September 2022 and influenza vaccination in November 2022.
The patient gave information that friends In the same school, more than 200 people were infected with influenza last week because the students at the school wore fewer masks, physical examination, the temperature was 38 degrees Celsius, and the lung sounds were normal. Normal fingertip oxygen levels 22 strains of influenza A H3 influenza virus were detected by nasal prong method. No other viruses were found. Diagnosed with influenza A, given 2 Xofluza antiviral drugs immediately, symptoms improved within 1 day, absent from school for 3 days and wears a mask when returning to school until the cough stops to prevent infecting others.
Dr. Manoon stated that Thai people do not have to be afraid of influenza. Influenza is an endemic disease. There is a vaccine and a cure. Please everyone hurry up and get the flu vaccine once a year. The vaccine may not protect against influenza infection. But it can help reduce the severity of the disease. This patient received the influenza vaccine in Nov. ’22 but was still infected. Preventing infection with influenza, a respiratory infection, is similar to COVID-19. Wear a mask, keep a distance, and wash your hands regularly.