Influenza cases in Selangor have surged by more than 80% in just one week.
State Public Health and Environment Committee executive councillor Jamaliah Jamaluddin said that 64.7% of reported cases originated from preschools to higher education institutions.
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“Between March 8 and September 27, a total of 88 outbreak locations were detected, averaging three new locations each week,” she said, as reported by NST.
So far, no recommendations for temporary school closures have been issued by health authorities.
How to differentiate between influenza A & B
There are four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C, and D. However, Influenza A and B are the most common.
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While both types share similar symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches and are highly contagious, there are some key differences:
Influenza A
This is the only type capable of causing pandemics. Both the bird flu and swine flu outbreaks were caused by Influenza A viruses. It can infect both humans and animals.
Influenza B
Influenza B viruses mutate more slowly than Influenza A. While they can also cause seasonal epidemics, they typically only affect humans.
Although most influenza infections are mild, they can pose serious risks to high-risk groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic illnesses.
According to a report by Sinar Harian, the Ministry of Health strongly encourages the public to maintain good personal hygiene and practice proper coughing and sneezing etiquette.
Those with symptoms are advised to stay home and avoid public areas. If going out is necessary, symptomatic individuals are encouraged to wear face masks to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
Featured Image Credit: FMT, ABC News
