Doctor Logacheva: the peak incidence of influenza B will be in early February

Influenza B is replacing swine flu in Russia, Natalya Logacheva, director of production at the LabQuest laboratory, a doctor for clinical laboratory diagnostics, told Izvestia.

Previously, the laboratory presented the results of studies on SARS and influenza. There were 6.4% positive results for influenza A (in December – 32.7%), also known as swine flu.

7.3% of positives (4.7% in December) are influenza B. And the number of infections continues to rise.

Logacheva explained it this way: “Traditionally, at the end of an influenza epidemic, influenza B viruses replace or overlap with influenza A viruses.”

She also said that a surge in influenza B infections is predicted in early February, and the peak of its incidence is in February-April.

At the same time, the doctor noted that influenza B will be difficult this season, since in February and March, Russians will have weakened immunity.

According to her, when “the outbreak of influenza A occurs in the period of early to mid-autumn”, “the population is still saturated with summer vitamins and summer sun.” However, “in February and March, everyone will have weakened immunity.”

Logacheva also said that the best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated. She noted that vaccination is relevant even now and noted that it is possible to get vaccinated 2-4 weeks after recovery.

Also, the specialist recommends that you immediately call a doctor when the first signs of the disease appear, since the flu can occur in a severe or complicated form. And relatives of the patient, in the case of confirmed influenza, even if they do not have signs of infection, start taking antiviral drugs in prophylactic doses.