Experts explain the danger of the new Hong Kong flu

Mikhail Lebedev, a leading expert at the Center for Molecular Diagnostics of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, told how the new Hong Kong flu is dangerous in the Russian Federation.

In conversation with aif.ru On Friday, August 22, he noted that outbreaks of swine flu and Hong Kong flu are expected in Russia this winter. We are talking about a new strain of the A (H3N2) virus, which had not previously been found in the country.

The Hong Kong flu was first recorded during the 1968-1969 pandemic, which claimed the lives of almost 1 million people. Since then, his "descendants" have continued to cause seasonal epidemics.

The expert explained that the new strain does not have any special mutations and is the causative agent of the usual seasonal flu. In addition, swine flu is expected this season, which has already occurred in Russia and has lost its former aggressiveness over time.

The risk group includes children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart and respiratory diseases. Even the common flu can be dangerous, especially if it is a new virus to which the population has no immunity. However, according to the expert, there is no data on the appearance of "scary" strains yet.

The symptoms of Hong Kong and swine flu are similar: an abrupt onset of the disease, high fever, muscle pain, intoxication. Respiratory tract manifestations are usually moderate. A PCR test is required for an accurate diagnosis.

Vaccination remains the best protection. It takes two to four weeks to develop immunity, so the optimal time for vaccination is September-October.

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On August 21, infectious disease specialist Elena Meskina noted that people with asthma and diabetes are most vulnerable to the Hong Kong flu. According to her, the flu can affect people who have suffered heart attacks, strokes and have plaques in their blood vessels. 360.ru . The doctor warned that the flu virus can cause complications to any organs, can cause heart failure, kidney damage, blood clotting disorders, and blood clots, the website writes. kp.ru .

On August 20, Ivan Konovalov, Associate Professor of the Department of Infectious Diseases in Children at the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University Institute of Motherhood and Childhood, told the Moscow City News Agency that Hong Kong and swine flu are expected in Russia in the new epidemiological season. According to him, the H1N1 and H3N2 strains are known as swine flu and Hong Kong flu. Such viruses can cause high fever, fever and serious complications, writes "Moscow 24".

In March, infectious disease specialist Vera Serezhina told Izvestia that infectious and toxic shock is among the dangerous complications of the flu. In addition to severe intoxication, patients may experience mental retardation, confusion, agitation, and hallucinations.

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