Patients are receiving atomization inhalation treatment at a community clinic in Changjiang New Village, Nan’an District.

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Recently, the temperature in Chengkou, the coldest area of Chongqing, dropped to around -10℃. Under the continuous influence of frigid weather, many hospitals and community clinics have been crowed recently. Most of the patients are the aged and kids.

For the severe flu, according to the influenza virus surveillance result released by Chongqing Center for Disease Control and Prevention on the fifth day, Chongqing is in the changing period of influenza strains. According to the forecast of the Center, the influenza virus in Chongqing will continue to be at a relatively active level.

Chongqing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning released a warning of freezing rain, snow and cold-air outbreak to remind citizens to prevent health problems from the extreme cold weather.

Parent and son both catch colds

Mask and wormwood

At the Department of Respiratory Medicine of Chongqing No. 6 People’s Hospital, the number of patients catching colds or suffering other acute upper respiratory infection have obviously increased. It was 1:00 p.m. after all patients registered in the morning received treatment.

Outside the consulting room, both Mr. Zhang and his son wore masks and caught colds. Mr. Zhang said that his son caught a cold first and several classmates in his class were ill, suffering from colds, fever and coughs.

Two days later, Mr. Zhang caught a cold, too. Over the days, the whole family of three always wore masks no matter at home or hospital for separation. Besides, Mr. Zhang’s wife also prevented from cold by wormwood fumigation.

How to prevent from getting cold? Doctors recommend wearing masks when going out, keeping rooms well ventilated and also preventing from getting cold by proper vinegar fumigation.

Influenza virus is still active

But the overall situation is within expected range

Why the flu is so severe? What’s the situation in Chongqing? On January 5, the Chongqing Center for Disease Control and Prevention released the pathogenic surveillance result for the influenza virus.

According to the report, the incidence of influenza-like illness and gathering/outbreaks of influenza-like illness in Chongqing are significantly higher than those of the last 5 years. According to the influenza sentinel surveillance, the influenza-like cases in proportion to total patients in this recent period is clearly higher than those in previous years.

According to the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning, Chongqing is in the changing period of influenza strains. Last October, influenza A (H3N2) accounted for 70% of the flu; in November, the influenza B prevailed and accounted for about 80%; while in December, the influenza B was slightly more than influenza A, accounting for 50% and 25% respectively.

According to the forecast of the Center, the influenza virus in Chongqing will continue to be at a relatively active level, but don’t worry, because the overall pandemic level of the influenza is still within the expected range.

As for the common cooling, rain and snow weather in Chongqing and snow disaster and freeze injury in some areas recently, the Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning released a warning of freezing rain, snow and cold-air outbreak to remind citizens to strengthen self-protection awareness and prevent accidents. (Translated by Huang Juan, Fathom Language Limited)