[The Epoch Times, June 27, 2022](The Epoch Times reporter Xu Menger comprehensive report) Recently, the number of influenza cases in many southern provinces of the mainland has skyrocketed. In some places, fever clinics are full, long queues overnight for medical treatment, and some schools have closed classes. With the Chinese Communist Party still controlling the CCP virus (COVID-19) outbreak above other epidemics, officials have acknowledged that the flu could put a huge strain on the health system before the end of the year.
A few days ago, the information released by the National Influenza Center of the Communist Party of China stated that the positive rate of influenza virus detection in southern provinces continued to rise in June, and some provinces entered a period of high incidence in summer, dominated by A (H3N2) subtype influenza virus. From June 6 to 12, the percentage of influenza-like cases reported by sentinel hospitals in southern provinces accounted for 5.8% of outpatient visits, higher than the 5.1% level in the previous week and higher than the same period in 2019-2021.
The latest weekly monitoring report shows that the number of outbreaks of influenza-like cases in southern provinces soared last week, with Guangdong, Fujian, and Guangxi all increasing more.
The China Times reported that in some places, fever clinics were full, long queues overnight, and even schools were closed. At the same time, “oseltamivir”, known as a flu drug, was out of stock in many places. Kewei oseltamivir phosphate granules, which originally sold for 88 yuan, had a high purchase price, and now they have been sold for 128 yuan a box.
Recently, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Shenzhen, Hainan and other places have issued emergency warnings one after another, and the number of hospital fever clinics has increased.
According to Nanfang Daily, Deng Wen, director of the emergency department of Guangdong Maternal and Child Health Hospital, said, “Since June, the number of patients admitted to the fever clinic in our hospital has risen sharply. The number of patients admitted in one day is about 600 to 700. It has doubled from the usual period, and it has also increased significantly compared to the same period last year.”
Kang Min, director of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Institute of the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said, “Due to the mutation of the influenza virus this year, the ability of the human body to cross-protect has weakened, making the population more susceptible to infection.”
According to the official website of the Fujian Provincial Health and Health Commission, since June, the average daily outpatient number of fever clinics in various places has increased from 15,000 to 33,000. Affected by the epidemic of major infectious diseases such as influenza and the CCP virus epidemic, there have been congestion of fever clinics, Long waiting time for medical treatment.
The British “Financial Times” reported on June 23 that under the directives of the top Chinese Communist Party, the public health policy put Covid-19 control over all other diseases, regardless of their severity.
Chinese health officials have warned that the government’s focus on eradicating Covid-19 has left it unprepared for a flu epidemic that could kill tens of thousands of citizens.
Yanzhong Huang, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, said: “China has invested so many health resources in controlling COVID that the authorities lack the capacity to deal with other infectious diseases.”
The current flu outbreak in southern China has alarmed some health officials. An official in the southern Guangdong city of Shantou, who asked not to be named, said the local government was still prioritizing the Covid-19 flu vaccine, even though the city has had no confirmed cases for months. But seasonal flu is currently spreading in the region.
“We have limited resources and must invest them in the areas that matter most,” the official said.
On June 17, Wang Dayan, director of the influenza division at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, warned at a seminar that the highly contagious influenza A virus could put “tremendous pressure” on the health system by the end of the year.
According to reports, compared with the common cold, the biggest feature of the flu in terms of symptoms is the high peak of fever, the fever lasts for a long time, and some children will also be accompanied by systemic symptoms such as headache and muscle pain. In addition, influenza is prone to complications such as otitis media and pneumonia.
Responsible editor: Li Muen#