习近平主席在联合国教科文组织总部发表重要演讲十年间
深度关注|推动纪检监察监督与财会监督贯通协调
推进国安机关工作高质量发展,持之以恒抓好作风建设

Early flu season, COVID-19, RSV causes for concern in Europe, health leaders say

发布时间:2022-12-02  来源:Xinhua  字体大小[ ]

Early flu season, COVID-19, RSV causes for concern in Europe, health leaders say

Photo taken on March 30, 2021 shows an exterior view of the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Chen Junxia)

"The World Health Organization Europe region is currently experiencing increasing circulation of influenza and RSV. Together with COVID-19, these viruses are expected to have a high impact on our health services and populations this winter," the statement said.

COPENHAGEN, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- European health leaders on Thursday voiced their concern over a potential surge in respiratory virus infections across the region this winter, and called for better protection of the population, especially the most vulnerable.

As concerns over the spread of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) increase and COVID-19 remains a threat, the 2022-2023 influenza (flu) season has gotten off to an early start in the European region, according to a joint statement issued by European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge and Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Andrea Ammon.

"The World Health Organization Europe region is currently experiencing increasing circulation of influenza and RSV. Together with COVID-19, these viruses are expected to have a high impact on our health services and populations this winter," the statement said.

It highlighted the current influenza viruses (A and B), which are rising in circulation in different parts of the region, among all age groups. Those aged 55 years and older are particularly vulnerable. They have accounted for almost half of all reported influenza hospital admissions since October.

A man wearing a face mask walks in front of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, July 8, 2022. (Photo by Aurelien Morissard/Xinhua)

Another cause for concern is the spike in RSV, a common respiratory virus that causes bronchitis or pneumonia and can be fatal, particularly in infants and the elderly. RSV cases have "also been on the rise since October, with some 20 countries and areas experiencing intensified RSV activity."

While case rates, hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and death rates are all currently low compared to the previous 12 months, there are concerns that "this situation could change as new variants emerge, and the disease continues to strain healthcare resources."

"With the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the circulation and health impact of other respiratory pathogens, it is challenging to predict how the new winter period will develop," the statement said.

The leaders also recommend that clinicians consider early antiviral treatments and prophylaxis for influenza, RSV and COVID-19 for those at risk of severe disease in order to prevent severe outcomes and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.

People take the subway at a metro station in Rome, Italy, May 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Jin Mamengni)

"We cannot say it enough: vaccination saves lives. It decreases the chances of being infected and reduces the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and seasonal influenza," the document said. ■

中国公共网摘编QI JADE

【免责声明】:以上图、文、音/视频文章内容转载于网络(本网原创文章除外),其版权均属于原作者或归属权利人。我们尊重原创,也注重分享。转发推广仅供学习参考之用,禁止用于商业用途,并不代表本网赞同其观点。仅供交流学习了解法律、法规、政策,如无意侵犯到贵公司或个人的知识产权,部分文章转发推送时未能及时与原作者取得联系,若来源标注错误或无意侵犯到您的权益烦请告知本网制作采编部QQ号: 3555333776,微信号:GAN160003,请联系我们将立即删除或更正。电话:010-89525216。本网投稿邮箱:3555333776@QQ.COM。通讯地址:北京市通州区通胡大街78号(京贸中心)二层15号。本网原创文章欢迎转载,为尊重和维护原创权利,请转载时务必注明原创作者、来源:XXXXX网站。
点击查看更多评论>>发表感言:
验证码,看不清楚请点击更换。