The seasonal influenza season in Yucatan came to an end last week with an official balance of six deaths, four more than in the same period of 2018.
This phase is preceded by the most lethal period for the Yucatecans: the interstate period 2017-2018, when 39 deaths were reported due to influenza in the state, which registered the most cases in the country.
The so-called “Influenza seasonal period” covers the epidemiological week 40 to 20 of the following year. It lasts eight months, from October to the end of May, and in theory it is the period of greatest danger in the whole country because with the high temperatures favor the circulation of the virus.
However, in Yucatan and other regions the most devastating effects of the disease correspond to the interstate season, which extends from the end of May – epidemiological week 21 – to the end of September of the following year, which is week 39.
The balance of the previous interstate season was totally negative for Yucatan: 329 cases of influenza were confirmed and 39 deaths were reported, which represented 52% of the total of 75 deaths registered nationwide as a result of this illness.
According to the weekly reports of influenza issued by the General Directorate of Epidemiology (Dirección General de Epidemiología: DGE), at the end of the seasonal period, 7,210 positive cases of influenza and 811 deaths were confirmed throughout Mexico, six of them in Yucatán, predominantly for viral subtype A-H1N1.
According to Health authorities, the fatalities were associated with a delay in the initiation of antiviral treatment (44.6%), a late demand for medical attention (32.7%), the absence of vaccination (92.5%) and the presence of comorbidities (32.3%). Other factors are hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus.
The states with the highest number of deaths are: State of Mexico (104), Hidalgo, Mexico City, Puebla and Guanajuato, which together account for 45.3 percent of deaths.
With its six deaths, Yucatan was the most affected state in the Peninsula, followed by Quintana Roo, with four deaths, and Campeche where there are no records of deaths due to influenza.
The General Directorate of Epidemiology published the report of week 21, which represents the first of the interstate flu season. In this period, Yucatán is the only state that appears with one positive case.
Throughout the country, 194 cases of Influenza Type (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) were reported this week.
Health authorities made the following statement:
-The epidemic curve of cases recorded at the beginning of the season shows a low viral circulation compared to previous interstate seasons, where a greater number of cases were observed at the beginning of the period.
-The positivity rate until this week is 25%. The viruses studied have not presented antigenic changes that alter their virulence or known pathogenicity.
-This condition affects women and men equally.
The Yucatan Times Newsroom with information from SSY
