Many of us have experienced what it’s like working from home.
The Covid-19 pandemic left many of us hyper-aware of basic personal hygiene and how vulnerable we are to falling ill just because of a virus that spreads and mutates at alarming speed across the globe.
Flu is one of those viruses.
Every year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) updates its vaccine compositions ahead of each hemisphere’s flu season, dependent on the most dominant strains.
“South Africa’s seasonal flu usually has the highest number of recorded cases between May and September each year,” according to the Paris-headquartered multinational pharmaceutical, Sanofi.
“More than 11 000 deaths related to flu occur in South Africa each year, and almost 50% of people in South Africa who catch severe flu, need to be hospitalised,” said Sanofi, which last month hosted an influenza media roundtable event.
“The flu causes up to 650 000 deaths globally each year, and the highest numbers are in sub-Saharan Africa.”
Read more | Dominant influenza viruses for the 2023 southern hemisphere flu season
This means it is to be expected that during winter, our chances of getting a cold or the flu are higher.
Colds and flu are more common in colder months as people are indoors more often allowing viruses to pass easily from one person to another, according to John Hopkins Medicine. The cold air also plays a role in weakening the body’s resistance.
“The WHO recommends,” according to the health agency’s latest update, “that quadrivalent vaccines for use in the 2023 southern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:
Egg-based Vaccines
1. an A/Sydney/5/2021 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
2. an A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus;
3. a B/Austria/1359417/2021(B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; and
4. a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.
Cell- or Recombinant-based Vaccines
1. an A/Sydney/5/2021 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus;
2. an A/Darwin/6/2021 (H3N2)-like virus; and
3. a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.”
- What are the symptoms of flu?
According to a Wits University study, titled Elevated community burden and asymptomatic transmission of seasonal influenza in an urban and a rural community in South Africa, 2017-2018: results of the PHIRST cohort study, "seasonal flu is characterised by:
• a sudden onset of fever,
• cough (usually dry),
• headache,
• muscle and joint pain,
• severe malaise (feeling unwell),
• sore throat and a runny nose. The cough can be severe and can last two or more weeks."
India-based pharmaceutical Indoco Remedies Ltd – the makers of decongestant inhalation capsules Karvol, among other products for colds and flus – suggests doing a cabinet “stock take” to determine which essentials need to be bought as winter sinks its claws in.
While seasonal flu is common, the coronavirus has taught us that we can’t be over-prepared when it comes to fighting off symptoms that could point to or result in a far more serious infection or illness.
“The truth is many symptoms of the flu and the common cold are similar,” says Karvol brand manager Bronwyn Ragavan. “If you have products to help deal with these, you are on the right track.
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“Stocking up on the relevant products to help with the winter colds and flu will allow you to be in control when the symptoms start, especially at night,” Bronywn suggests.
“However, should these at home remedies not help, you will need to see the GP,” she cautions.
Bronwyn recommends building your cold and flu season tool kit starting with these 5 winter essentials:
1) DECONGESTANTS
These are needed to help combat nasal congestion that can make breathing difficult and affect sleep and daily activities.
2) PAIN AND FEVER RELIEVERS
These are needed to provide relief from headaches, muscle aches and fever associated with colds and flu.
3) LOZENGES
These need to be kept handy to help with those painful sore throats. Perfect for relief from the pain, plus a selection of different flavours will let your family choose their favourite.
4) STERILISING AGENTS
These are good to have and use in the house to keep the germs away. You can use a sterilising spray on counters, the outside of the bottles, even the remote, to help reduce the spread of germs.
5) COUGH SUPPRESSANTS/EXPECTORANTS
These are needed to stop disruptive coughs from keeping you awake at night or affecting your productivity.
