Flu Outbreak in Iran; Warning of Disease Risk for Vulnerable Groups

The head of the Center for Communicable Disease Management at Iran's Ministry of Health announced that currently, "the outbreak of H1N1 influenza in Iran and some countries is high these days." On Saturday, January 15, ISNA news agency quoted Qobad Moradi, a health ministry official, stating: "We are facing an epidemic of influenza, especially seasonal influenza, globally. The outbreak of H1N1 influenza in Iran and some countries is high these days." Qobad Moradi further warned that the peak of this influenza disease will continue until the end of January. He said: "Approximately 40% of individuals hospitalized in medical centers due to respiratory infections are due to influenza." According to the head of the Center for Communicable Disease Management, individuals with underlying health conditions, especially the elderly suffering from these diseases, individuals with immune deficiencies, those with respiratory infections, diabetes, hypertension, and similar illnesses, as well as pregnant women, are considered high-risk groups for influenza. Qobad Moradi, citing "some specialists," recommended that high-risk groups for influenza "should get vaccinated if the vaccine is available." Meanwhile, some users with underlying health conditions on social media reported that they could not find the influenza vaccine in the market. In this context, Hadi Yazdani, a physician and member of the central council of the Islamic Iran Nation Alliance Party, criticized the "inadequate and late" distribution of this vaccine on social media. He wrote: "The inadequate and late distribution of the influenza vaccine has also contributed to the heavy wave of acute respiratory infections this year." This comes as most countries, including Iran, always face an increase in influenza cases and its spread nationwide during this season, and early planning for public access to the vaccine should not be difficult. Qobad Moradi also recommended that high-risk groups for influenza use masks and avoid crowded places, maintaining social distance if they must be in such locations. According to this report, influenza currently ranks first among respiratory diseases in Iran, followed by rhinoviruses, which cause colds, and COVID-19 in second and third place among respiratory diseases.