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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
In Ukraine, the season of acute respiratory viral infections is picking up pace. In just a week, from 12 to 18 October, more than 106 thousand people contracting the illness, most of them children. At the same time, doctors note an unusual course of certain illnesses: patients may become infected with two viruses at once, causing symptoms to occur in waves. This is reported by Glavkom citing LB.ua and the Center for Public Health.
According to the latest data from the Center for Public Health, during 12–18 October, 106 384 Ukrainians fell ill with ARVI. This is 3,4% higher than the previous week.
Among those sick are 64 684 children and 41 700 adults. 2043 patients were hospitalized, including 1229 children.
Since the start of the epidemic season, 28 September, to 18 October, 307 443 people fell ill. However, this figure is 20,5% lower than during the same period last year.
Why can children get several viruses at once
Family physician Marianna Kohut told LB.ua that a feature of this autumn is the early start of the respiratory disease season.
In her observations, mixed infections occur among children – cases where the body is attacked by two different viruses at the same time.
“Because of this, symptoms may stack, and the disease can progress in waves, which often scares parents,” the doctor explained.
At the same time, medics are not reporting the appearance of fundamentally new ARVI symptoms. Most often patients complain of a runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, and cough.
Influenza usually has a different onset: fever may rise suddenly, noticeable fatigue, muscle pain, and a strong cough appear. Proper tests help identify the causative agent.
What is known about influenza and vaccines
Although doctors already report individual cases of illnesses with flu-like symptoms, laboratory surveillance by the Center for Public Health for 12–18 October did not detect influenza viruses in the samples studied.
Instead, experts recorded circulation of SARS-CoV-2, rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, parainfluenza viruses, and metapneumoviruses.
An additional problem was delays in vaccine supplies for influenza. As of 20 October, the vaccines had not yet arrived in expected volumes, which complicated preparations for the season.
Despite the gradual rise in the number of cases, the epidemic situation remains under control. In all regions of Ukraine, disease incidence indicators match baseline levels, and there are no signs of intensive spread of respiratory infections at present.
As a reminder, Glavkom previously reported Ukrainians’ complaints about unusual coughing and other respiratory symptoms. Kyiv’s Chief Sanitary Doctor Serhiy Chumak explained that scientists had not detected new viruses. Among common pathogens, medics named rhinoviruses and parainfluenza viruses.
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