Summary
The influenza pandemic (known as influenza) is an acute respiratory epidemic caused by influenza viruses, which seriously threatens human health and socio-economic well-being. Understanding their epidemic characteristics, prevention and control strategies are important in responding to the influenza pandemic. The paper elaborates on the pathology, epidemiological characteristics, clinical performance, diagnosis and treatment of influenza and focuses on prevention and control strategies, including vaccinations, drug prevention, personal health protection, outbreak surveillance and early warning, and public health measures, with the aim of providing a comprehensive reference base for influenza prevention and control in order to reduce influenza morbidity and mortality and its impact on society.
Keyword
Influenza; epidemic characteristics; prevention; control strategies
Introduction
Influenza is widely disseminated globally and is characterized by seasonal and occasional epidemics. The high variability of the influenza virus has led to the creation of new strains, posing enormous challenges to vaccine development and outbreak control. In addition to the symptoms of fever, cough and inactivity, influenza can cause serious complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure and even death. In addition, the influenza outbreak will put enormous pressure on medical resources and affect the normal functioning of socio-economic processes. An in-depth study of the epidemiological characteristics of influenza and the development of effective prevention and control strategies are therefore of paramount importance for public health and social stability.
II. Pathology
Influenza viruses are part of the positive mutavirus section and are classified into categories A, B, C and D, depending on the nuclear protein and the underlying protein. The influenza A virus is most common, and its antigen variability is the main pathogen leading to the influenza pandemic. The influenza B virus is relatively stable and can cause local epidemics. In general, influenza C virus causes only minor upper respiratory infections, with very few major epidemics. The DTP virus is primarily infected with livestock, which have not yet been detected to be clearly pathogenic to humans. The variability mechanisms of the influenza virus include, inter alia, antigen drift and antigen conversion. Antigen drift is the result of small changes in their surface antigens caused by the mutation of the virus ‘ s genes, which reduces the human immune capacity to the virus and causes seasonal epidemics. The antigen shift is due to the regeneratives of different sub-influenza viruses, resulting in new strains, which could lead to a pandemic of influenza.
III. Epidemic characteristics
Influenza is a global epidemic, with marked seasonality. In temperate areas, flu is usually high in winter, while in the tropics, the influenza season is relatively low and can occur throughout the year. Influenza is spreading at an extremely high rate and can spread rapidly among the population through the use of foam, exposure and so on. People are generally susceptible to influenza viruses, but those with low levels of immunity, such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic basic diseases, are more vulnerable to influenza viruses and often have higher post-infection conditions. Influenza morbidity and mortality vary by region, year, virus strain. The World Health Organization estimates that around 5 per cent – 10 per cent of adults and 20 per cent – 30 per cent of children globally are infected with the influenza virus, with about 3 – 5 million cases of serious diseases, resulting in 29 – 650,000 deaths.
IV. Clinical performance
The incubation period for influenza is typically 1 – 7 days, with an average of 2 – 4 days. Patients usually suffer from acute illness, mainly in the form of all-body symptoms such as high heat, headaches, inactivity, and whole-body acid problems, accompanied by respiratory symptoms such as coughing, ingesting, aldicarb and nose plugs. Some patients can also experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. The symptoms of influenza are usually gradually reduced within 1-2 weeks, but it can cause serious complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, heartitis, encephalitis, and even death among high-risk groups such as the elderly, children, people suffering from chronic underlying diseases, etc.
V. Diagnosis and treatment
5.1 Diagnosis
The diagnosis of influenza is based mainly on epidemiological history, clinical performance and laboratory tests. In the flu pandemic season, the possibility of influenza should be considered for patients suffering from heat, cough and inactivity. Laboratory examinations include, inter alia, viral nucleic acid testing, virus separation culture, serology testing, etc. Among them, viral nucleic acid testing is a common method currently used to diagnose influenza, with rapid, sensitive and unique characteristics.
5.2 Treatment
Influenza patients should be careful to rest, drink more water and maintain indoor air circulation. For patients with milder symptoms, special treatment is generally not required and can be recovered on their own within 1-2 weeks. Antiviral treatment should be provided in a timely manner to patients with more severe symptoms. Commonly used antiviral drugs include neuro-aminoase inhibitors (e.g. Ostawe, Zanamwe, etc.) and M2 ion-channel retardants (e.g., gold and ethylamine, etc.). The neurosamate inhibitors are effective for influenza A and B and have less adverse effects and are currently the preferred drug for the treatment of influenza. M2 Ion-channel retardants are effective only for influenza A viruses, and clinical application has been limited by the high resistance of influenza A viruses in recent years. In addition, antibiotic treatment should be provided for persons with a combination of bacterial infections.
VI. Prevention and control strategies
6.1 Vaccination
Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent influenza. Influenza vaccine can be divided into live vaccines and detoxification vaccines. The use of live vaccines is relatively safe and applies to the majority of the population, especially those most at risk, such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and those suffering from chronic basic diseases. The vaccine is highly immune, but is generally not recommended for use in the above-mentioned high-risk groups because of the risk of a toxic response. Influenza vaccinations should be carried out before the annual flu season in order to obtain the best immunizations. It is generally recommended that people over six months of age be vaccinated against influenza annually.
6.2 Drug prevention
Drug prevention is available during the influenza pandemic season for some at-risk populations who are not vaccinated against influenza or are not immunized. The most commonly used drugs are neurosamate inhibitors, such as Ostave. Drug prevention should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor and is generally not recommended for long-term use in order to avoid causing viral resistance.
6.3 Personal health protection
Maintaining good hygiene practices is an important measure to prevent influenza. The public should be diligent in washing hands, avoiding touching the eyes, mouth and nose, etc.; using paper towels or elbows to cover nose and nose when coughing or sneezing; maintaining indoor air flow and regular window ventilation; and avoiding, to the extent possible, access to densely populated, inaccessible sites and, if necessary, wearing masks.
6.4 Epidemic surveillance and early warning
Establishment of a robust influenza pandemic surveillance network and enhanced surveillance and early warning of influenza. The timely detection of influenza virus variability and epidemic trends provides a scientific basis for the development of prevention and control strategies. At the same time, increased information exchange and cooperation with other countries and regions to address the global challenges of the influenza pandemic.
6.5 Public health measures
During the influenza pandemic, there is a need to improve ventilation in places where people gather, such as schools, child-care institutions and nursing homes, and to put in place a system of morning and noon screening to detect and isolate influenza patients in a timely manner in order to prevent the spread of the epidemic. In areas where the influenza outbreak has occurred, appropriate measures should be taken to prevent and control it, such as limiting crowding, closing public places, etc.
Conclusion
Influenza is a common acute respiratory infection with complex epidemiological characteristics that pose a serious threat to human health. Improved influenza prevention and control, including comprehensive and multifaceted strategies such as vaccination, drug prevention, personal health protection, outbreak surveillance and early warning, and public health measures, can effectively reduce influenza morbidity and mortality and its impact on society. In addition, basic research on influenza viruses should be further strengthened, with in-depth knowledge of their mutation mechanisms and pathogenicity, and stronger support for influenza prevention and control. At the same time, the public should raise awareness of the influenza pandemic, increase self-protection awareness and work actively with the Government and the health sector to address the challenges of the pandemic.
