Health experts want to increase public awareness about the risk of seasonal influenza (flu) in Mon State as cases rise during the seasonal transition from the hot to the rainy season.

Seasonal flu is a viral respiratory illness that spreads through the air, with symptoms typically lasting between three and seven days.

A doctor in Mon State explained to Than Lwin Times that seasonal flu is very contagious. The virus mutates every year and can re-infect people each year because those who previously caught it do not have immunity to the new mutated versions of the virus.

He said: “Right now, flu cases are pretty high, but seasonal flu is the most common. The flu virus changes every year. With this season’s flu, if one person in a family gets sick, chances are the whole family will catch it too.”

He added that this year flu is affecting both children and adults with some patients also experiencing diarrhoea. It is not thought to be life-threatening.

Another doctor explained that because seasonal flu mutates and changes every year treatments must be changed and tailored accordingly each year. He added that the current flu variant is causing more severe symptoms than in previous years and even with proper medication the symptoms may last for several days.

“The current seasonal flu is somewhat more severe than in previous years. The fever it causes is difficult to reduce. Even with paracetamol-group medications, which are usually effective against fever, [patients’] temperatures haven’t dropped as much as expected,” he said.

He warned that though no deaths have so far been reported from seasonal flu this year in Mon State, the illness should be taken seriously because it can weaken the immune system and make people more vulnerable to other diseases.

He also said that if people think they have contracted flu they should seek medical care and visit hospitals where they can identify whether the infection is due to seasonal flu or common flu and prescribe appropriate medication as the different varieties of flu require different treatment.

Seasonal flu cases usually increase each year during the rainy season, so it’s important for both children and adults to remain vigilant and seek treatment if they think they have been affected, according to health professionals.