Che virus considered to be particularly virulent this season affects different age groups and generally manifests itself by fever, body aches, sore throat, cough or headache.
“The seasonal flu has knocked me down this year! I started to feel intense fatigue with chills and muscle and joint pain, then high fever and a dry cough for several days. I used several medications to relieve these symptoms, but despite that, I still can’t get back to my usual state of health,” says Aymane, 28, who says she has never contracted such a severe flu.
It had been in the air for some time. Last September, several experts, particularly Moroccans and foreigners, warned that the flu could be more virulent during the fall and winter seasons 2022-2023, with a higher number of contaminations compared to previous years.
Indeed, the Kingdom’s health centers have experienced a large influx of patients with flu-like symptoms in recent weeks. Contrary to what many people suggest, the said flu “has no connection with the variants of Covid-19 which currently dominate in Morocco”, confirms Dr. Tayeb Hamdi, doctor, researcher in systems and health policies and vice-president of the National Federation of Health.
“Admittedly, there are some similarities between the two viruses: Both are respiratory viruses that spread in closed spaces, especially during winter, and cause common symptoms, but that does not mean that we should link Covid flu. A person vaccinated against the flu is not protected against Covid-19 and vice versa. This is explained by the fact that the vaccine against Covid stimulates our immunity to produce antibodies which target this same virus and not another”, he specifies.
In addition, this practitioner points out that the strong spread of seasonal flu this year is explained in particular by a drop in collective immunity to the flu caused by the application of preventive measures against Covid-19. “In recent years, Moroccans have been forced to respect certain barrier gestures against the coronavirus, such as wearing a mask, using a hydro-alcoholic solution or physical distancing, which have reduced immune memory against the flu,” he explains.
Regarding the epidemiological situation of the seasonal flu in Morocco, the vice-president of the National Health Federation underlines that for the moment, nothing allows us to qualify this flu as severe or not, due to the absence of data. official. Along the same lines, Hamdi points out that very few Moroccans get tested for the flu, insisting that testing is the only way to identify the type of virus.
Ultimately, seasonal flu or Covid-19, vaccination remains the best solution to prevent infection and protect the most vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases, including diabetes, kidney failure, respiratory diseases as well as heart diseases. “Getting the flu shot once a year reduces the risk of catching the virus and infecting others by up to 90%. It protects enormously against serious cases and deaths, ”recalls Tayeb Hamdi.
The seasonal flu vaccination campaign began in Morocco last October. The Kingdom is using this year, like the two previous years, a vaccine with four strains instead of three, to provide broader and greater protection.