Severe Influenza and Omicron Mutation Suspicion in Changing Weather: Children at Risk

The scorching heat came this weekend to the southern part of California where the rain fell and the sun rose the next day and the volatile weather continued. The maximum temperature during the day exceeds 90 degrees, but morning and evening are still in the 50 degrees. Due to the changeable weather with a daily temperature difference of 30 to 40 degrees, respiratory system diseases including flu (influenza) are prevalent. There have been steady reports of flu-related deaths, especially among children, and health authorities are advising not to worry that flu season is over.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on the 28th that a total of 145 children had died of the flu by April this year, adding two more infants and toddlers who died from the flu last week. This is close to the total of 199 during the 2019-2022 flu season, before the outbreak of the Corona 19 pandemic. The CDC’s Center for National Health Statistics Death Surveillance said about 7.5% of deaths to date have been attributed to pneumonia, the flu (influenza) or the COVID-19 virus.

Respiratory diseases, including the flu, have been quiet for a while since the Corona 19 epidemic. This is because the wearing of masks has increased, precautions such as hand washing have been more thoroughly followed, and movement and contact itself have decreased. However, respiratory diseases have returned, such as the issuance of a flu epidemic warning for the first time in three years last winter. These respiratory viruses cause coughing, runny nose, sore throat and headache. In most cases, it causes only an upper respiratory infection, commonly referred to as a cold, but rarely leads to lower respiratory infections such as pneumonia. In addition, the respiratory disease that is currently in vogue is characterized by a so-called ‘cold eye’, which is accompanied by fever and cough, as well as mucus and bloodshot eyes. The cause is a cold accompanied by epidemic keratoconjunctivitis caused by an adenovirus.

This is similar to the symptoms of the recently spreading Corona 19 new omicron submutation ‘Arcturus’ (XBB.1.16), so it is necessary to take a corona test if symptoms of eye disease appear along with respiratory symptoms.

According to the California Department of Health announced on the 27th, at least three cases of Arcturus infection, a submutation of Omicron, have been reported in Los Angeles County. As the Federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revealed, it is spreading in India and elsewhere, and Arcturus infection is accompanied by conjunctivitis symptoms such as red eyes. Health authorities estimated that as of this week, 10% of corona-infected patients in the United States and 7% of those infected in California were caused by Arcturus. Experts pointed out that corneal damage may occur if the symptoms of Arcturus infection accompanied by eye disease symptoms are not properly dealt with.

The health authorities said, “Itchy eyes or congested eyes with watery eyes can be a sign of COVID-19 infection. These symptoms should not be downplayed simply as the result of pollen or seasonal allergies.”

On the other hand, to prevent respiratory diseases, the health authorities emphasized that the most important thing is to follow personal hygiene rules such as proper hand washing, coughing etiquette, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Eunseon Ha Reporter>