Influenza peak in China may end after around one month: expert

(ECNS)-- Statistics from the Chinese National Influenza Center (CNIC) show that the positive rate of influenza virus continued to rise in both southern and northern provinces during the eighth week of 2023 and A(H1N1)pdm09 was dominant, followed by A(H3N2).

“According to the laws of COVID-19, the peak of influenza infection may end after around one month,” said Hu Yang, a medical expert from Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital.

Hu suggested people wear masks and protect themselves well when going out, and  suspend their spring outing plans.

Hu said in the past three years, people have been wearing masks because of the COVID-19, resulting in the decline of antibodies against influenza.

“Different people may differ in the decline of antibodies, so we can't judge exactly the end time according to its previous spread law,” said Hu.

According to Hu, some people insist on wearing masks, while others don't, which makes it difficult to predict the spread of the influenza virus.

The Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Zhejiang CDC) announced that influenza outbreaks have occurred at schools in multiple cities across the province with H1N1 being the predominant virus.

Li Dongzeng, chief physician at Beijing YouAn Hospital's infectious disease department, told China News Service that many children that have not been infected with influenza before, their relatively weak immune systems resulting in the many cases currently recorded in Beijing.