Iran’s Health Ministry Warns of Possible Second Wave of Influenza

The deputy director of the Center for Management of Contagious Diseases at Iran’s Ministry of Health has reported the subsiding of the first wave of influenza across the country, but has simultaneously warned that a second wave could re-emerge in the late months of the year.

Mahmoud Nabavi told the ISNA news agency that “with the continuation of cold weather in Esfand and Farvardin months, we may experience another brief wave of this disease.”

Various reports of influenza outbreaks in Iran have been published in recent days and weeks.

Iran’s Ministry of Health estimates that the H3N2 virus was more prevalent than other strains in the current year.

The H3N2 virus is a subtype of the influenza virus that infects both birds and mammals. This virus is very common during seasonal colds. A pandemic of one type of this virus in 1968 and 1969 left nearly one million victims worldwide.

Nevertheless, the deputy minister of Iran’s Health Ministry has emphasized that only one percent of patients are hospitalized due to pneumonia, and in terms of severity and number of cases, this year shows no significant difference from previous years.

Mr. Nabavi stated that in the current year, “three to four percent” of people have been infected with the virus.

The government official added that patients should not arbitrarily consume antibiotics, especially if the illness is not accompanied by fever and purulent sputum; rather, they should consult a physician.

Overall, people with weakened immune systems facing conditions such as severe diabetes, chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular diseases, or liver failure are urged to receive the influenza vaccine if they so wish.

Source: Radio Farda