Taha Al Lozi, the head of the Chest Department at Al Bashir Hospitals, said on Monday that the influenza virus is a mutating virus that changes every 6 months to a year, between partial or complete mutation, and each mutation is accompanied by symptoms that may differ from previous infections.
Al Lozi explained that Al Bashir Hospitals daily receive between 100 to 150 cases suffering from seasonal flu and chest infections, noting that the most common symptoms include runny nose, throat congestion, elevated temperatures, general weakness, fatigue, dry cough, and sinusitis, according to Al Mamlaka.
He pointed out that children and the elderly are considered high-risk groups if infected with the flu, due to weakened immunity and decreased body resistance, especially in the elderly who suffer from chronic diseases, which may lead to complications requiring hospitalization.
Al Lozi advised those infected to avoid mixing with others, stay away from crowded places, and wear a mask to prevent the spread of the infection.
He noted that globally, the flu vaccine has been proven to reduce the symptoms of the disease, especially among the most vulnerable groups, but it does not completely prevent infection; it reduces the severity of symptoms and their complications.
