The influenza viruses in China: Pandemic and prevention measures

Abstract

Seasonal influenza (SI) is a kind of respiratory virus with annual epidemic and high contagion, leading to cause increased morbidity and mortality in certain population. According to estimates, the flu causes an average of 400,000 respiratory deaths per year worldwide. The estimate mortality of flu is more than 65 per 100,000 people in the worldwide, and the ratio is 52.9/100,000 in China, demonstrating that seasonal influenza has caused a considerable disease burden in China. Influenza viruses are spread by droplets, and people infected with seasonal influenza usually have a sudden high fever, dry cough, and severe headache. Noteworthy, children and gravidas have higher rates of infection, and the elder population over 65 ages has a higher risks for complications, hospitalizations and death, especially patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Therefore, prevention and treatment of high-risk populations is important to prevent and control influenza, while vaccination is an effective solution to protect them from infection and associated complications. In this paper, the author analyzes the epidemic features of influenza viruses in different regions of China in light of the prevention and control policies in various places, and provides some suggestions to prevent pandemic of influenza virus and enhance individuals preventive awareness, which purpose is to reduce the influenza positivity rate and the infection rate in the future, especially for vulnerable population of children and elder people.