Why the Covid-19 years could make course of China’s flu spike hard to predict

Years of mask-wearing have led to a drop in flu antibodies but experts are hopeful seasonal influenza outbreak will ease in a month

Influenza A is behind most of the infections so far, with H1N1 and H3N2 subvariants both spreading

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As China’s Covid-19 infections wane, seasonal influenza cases are rising. Photo: AP

Published: 7:00pm, 6 Mar 2023

Seasonal influenza has yet to peak across China, but the current surge in cases could ease within a month, according to health experts.

The number of flu outbreaks is still on the rise, with 390 recorded nationwide in the week ending February 26, more than triple the previous week, according to the Chinese National Influenza Centre.

An outbreak is a group of at least 10 cases.

Another report by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said that more than a quarter of patients with flu-like symptoms tested positive for the illness.

The common flu virus influenza A – which causes symptoms including fever, aches, headaches and diarrhoea – is the dominant infection, with subtypes H1N1 and H3N2 both spreading.

In the capital, influenza A was responsible for 99 per cent of all cases, with H1N1 and H3N2 accounting for 64 per cent and 35 per cent, respectively, Beijing Daily reported on February 28.

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