The National Institute for Communicable Diseases says it expects to see an increase in the number of yearly flu cases being reported this coming flu season.
Professor Cheryl Cohen, from the NICD’s Centre for Respiratory Diseases, says the isolation caused by the Covid-19 lockdowns, have lead to a decrease in the number of people being exposed to the annual flu.
She says there has already been a high number of flu cases being reported, despite the warm weather.
Follow the latest updates by the NICD here.
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Have a fever or flu-like illness? – consider malaria! COVID-19 and malaria share many early symptoms like fever, chills, headaches – so, starts as a general ‘flu-like illness. #COVIDvsMalaria pic.twitter.com/QWa10XZyHO
— NICD (@nicd_sa) January 26, 2022
The National Institute of Communicable Diseases says patients, who reside in or have recently travelled to malaria-prone areas, should also be tested for malaria if they show flu-like symptoms.
The Institute says this is especially important for patients who reside in Limpopo, Kwa-Zulu Natal or Mpumalanga, or who have recently travel to or from Mozambique.
The NICD says many malaria cases are being misdiagnosed as COVID-19 as both diseases have similar non-specific early symptoms.
Principal Medical Scientist at the NICD, Dr. Jaishree Raman.
Read more here.
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#MalariaAlert Any individual who has travelled to a malaria-risk area in the past six weeks and is presenting with fever or ‘flu-like illness, must inform their healthcare provider and get tested for malaria. Read more here https://t.co/0UfXgudhFv
— NICD (@nicd_sa) January 24, 2022
South African health authorities have seen a marked decrease in the number of excess deaths reported during the fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Public Health Specialist at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Dr. Waasila Jassat this decrease in excess mortalities has become more apparent over the past 2 to 3 weeks.
Jassat says all other indicators, such as hospitalizations, severe disease and ICU treatment, have also, in this current wave, seen a drastic decline.
Access the Health Department’s latest Covid-19 update here.
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As of today the cumulative number of #COVID19 cases identified in SA is 3 552 043 with 5 244 new cases reported. Today 128 deaths have been reported bringing the total to 93 117 deaths. The cumulative number of recoveries now stand at 3 358 065 with a recovery rate of 94.5% pic.twitter.com/zGs6sDcVMw
— Department of Health (@HealthZA) January 14, 2022
