Influenza, Pregliasco: ‘4 to 6 million cases expected’

This season, “from 4 to 6 million cases of true flu are expected, plus the flu-like forms of the many less invasive viruses, plus Covid”. So at SkyTG24, Fabrizio Pregliasco, virologist of the University of Milan, guest of “Good morning” stressing that “the flu is an underestimated problem, but it hurts too. In normal years it caused 6 to 10 thousand deaths to suffer ». With the Delta variant, he adds, “the problem this winter will be the diagnoses between Covid and flu. “This is why even a healthy adult should be vaccinated.” The third dose can also be received simultaneously.

“What worries us and this is the ECDC message, is that since two of the viruses that are circulating are new, they will be able to spread more widely and therefore the effect will be in numerical terms”, says Pregliasco, explaining that from the point of view of symptoms the flu ‘is no more or less bad every year, but it becomes a public health problem with respect to its ability to spread. A winter that is not going to be very pleasant from this point of view ».

In Italy, the virologist reports, «we have already received the first reports of the flu from the laboratories. It is a pre-season classic, the real influence this year too we expect it when the temperatures are low and prolonged. But we are already seeing and suffering forms of influenza due to the cousin viruses that this year are raising the ridge throughout the Northern Hemisphere and in Europe. And they are the appetizer of what we will see ». It is, explains the expert, H3N2 viruses «which fortunately are similar to those foreseen in the composition of vaccines. In this sense – he underlines – we have the comfort that the flu vaccination will certainly be effective ».

Sudden increase in fever over 38, joint pain and respiratory symptoms are the characteristics of the flu “and unfortunately with the Delta variant all this sadly resembles Covid” and tampons will be needed to differentiate the two forms. For this reason, continues Pregiasco, “it is necessary to resume the habit of vaccination against the flu and I am confident in a wide spread even among healthy adults”, to avoid confusing Covid and influenza “which is the problem of this winter” and to protect ” the smallest children he may have at home or even the most fragile of the family ».

“It is necessary to inquire with your family doctor and with the territorial reference structure to plan the vaccination that can be administered in the same session with two distinct inoculations because studies have shown that there is no loss of efficacy and no more side effects. heavy », concludes the expert.