Mind you , Covid-19 is not gone yet , and everyone still needs to guard against it . However , we are here to spotlight another looming respiratory illness that could ruin your holidays and your health .

It is none other than influenza , also known as the flu . This disease is not something to sneeze at ( pardon the pun ). This is especially if you are 65 or older , more so if you have diabetes , kidney disease and / or other chronic health conditions .

The flu can cause acute respiratory distress , pneumonia , and other serious complications . It can also increase the risk of a heart attack by more than 10 times in the first seven days of catching the flu . Stroke risk may also double or triple in the first two weeks of infection .

It is sobering to think that the flu can be associated with a heart attack , pneumonia and stroke , which rank as the 2nd , 3rd and 4th principal causes of death ( after Covid-19 ) in Malaysia in 2022 .

A ROUGH FLU SEASON

In light of this , Professor Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail , Technical Committee Chairman of the Immunise4Life programme , advises caution if you are planning to visit the northern hemisphere where flu cases are surging .

He explains : “ Whereas the flu circulates all year round in Malaysia , temperate countries tend to have their flu season in the winter months – December to March in the northern hemisphere , and June to August in the south .

“ In 2022 , however , flu season started early in the northern hemisphere . Cases have been increasing dramatically since October and have already overtaken the number of cases reported this time in 2021 .

“ The rise is expected to continue , and we expect a rough flu season in most northern destinations popular with Malaysian vacationers .”

As at Dec 2 , 2022 , the United States Centres for Disease Control ( CDC ) estimated 8.7 million Americans had been infected , 78,000 hospitalised , and 4,500 died of flu-related causes in what media outlets have called the country ’ s ‘ worst flu outbreak in a decade ’.

Meanwhile , the French Health Authority has declared a flu epidemic in three areas in France , while identifying another five – including Paris and its surrounding areas – to be in a pre-epidemic phase .

In its first winter update in 2022 , the National Health Service ( NHS ) of England reported an average of 344 flu patients in hospitals per day in a single week – 10 times more than the number seen at the beginning of December 2021 .

Over in the Far East , the health authorities of South Korea , Taiwan and Japan are also expressing concern over the steadily increasing number of flu cases , amid mounting fears of a possible twindemic – the concurrent spread of flu and Covid-19 .

Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail

Datuk Dr Christopher Lee

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

Datuk Dr Christopher Lee feels travellers would do well to understand how flu viruses get around . He is a Consultant Infectious Diseases Physician and a Malaysian Influenza Working Group member under the Malaysian Society of Infectious Diseases & Chemotherapy .

He says : “ Picture yourself enjoying the crisp , chilly outdoors . Before long , you hastily make your way into a cosy café , joining other patrons warming up over steaming mugs of hot chocolate .

“ It all sounds wonderful , except that you are more likely to catch the flu indoors in winter . By coughing , sneezing or speaking , infected persons could send flu viruses circulating inside the crowded and poorly ventilated environment . You might also pick up flu viruses that have settled onto the tabletops , door handles and other surfaces .

“ Depending on your proximity to the source and duration of exposure , you might end up with a full-blown bout of the flu , and waste precious holidays in bed or in hospital .”

Dr Lee continues : “ Now , let ’ s say you managed to evade the flu throughout the trip . Don ’ t be too quick to think you are flying home flu-free .

“ On board the plane , you have an 80 per cent chance of getting the flu if there is an infected person – who may or may not have symptoms – sitting one row in front or behind you , within two seats to either side .

“ Additionally , flu viruses can survive for up to 48 hours on certain surfaces , including your overhead compartment handle , seat-belt buckle , video screen , food tray , arm-rest and control panel .

“ You might try disinfecting these items . However , it would be impractical to disinfect everything you touch when you land , such as your luggage bag , trolley , the toilet flush , car door handle and so on .”

FLU PREVENTION TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS

Dr Lee says : “ Follow the Covid-19 SOPs when possible . Masking , although no longer promoted in most countries , may help reduce the chances of catching the flu .

“ It is , however less effective when those around you are not masked . Therefore , the additional protection conferred by the annual flu vaccination is recommended to prevent the disease .”

“ When injected , the vaccine introduces inactivated flu viruses into the body . These have been killed and are unable to cause disease . However , they stimulate your body to produce antibodies that will spring to your defence if you happen to be exposed to the flu . Allow two weeks to reach the desired level of immunity before flying off .”

Like Covid-19 vaccination , the flu vaccination helps prevent severe disease , hospitalisation and death . Flu vaccination is also associated with a 34 per cent lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events . There was also an 18 per cent reduced risk of death reported in patients with heart failure .

In people with Type 2 diabetes , flu vaccination has been associated with a reduced risk of heart failure by 22 per cent , stroke by 30 per cent , heart attack by 19 per cent and pneumonia by 15 per cent . Noting that flu viruses mutate constantly , Dr Lee adds that currently available flu vaccines have been updated to effectively fight virus sub-types that are circulating in the northern hemisphere at this time .

He says : “ This will help reduce your risk of contracting the disease . The flu vaccination is not only recommended for those travelling abroad but for everyone , especially high-risk groups , as the importation of flu cases through air travel can result in the spread of flu within the community .

So , if you have not been vaccinated against the flu , now is a good time to get it done . The annual flu vaccination is your passport to healthy holidays . Don ’ t leave home without it .” – The Health

This article was contributed by the Flu Prevention is An Act of Love campaign under Immunise4Life , a major initiative to promote life course vaccination by the Ministry of Health , Malaysian Paediatric Association and the Malaysian Society of Infectious Diseases & Chemotherapy .