This is a warning from Ms. Yelena Malinnikova, an infectious disease expert, medical doctor and virologist from Russia, in an interview with TASS news agency.
A future flu pandemic is inevitable, with the issue being just when and how serious it is, says Malinnikova.
Virus A(H3N2) has been around in humans for more than 50 years, while the poultry influenza strain carrying the protein hemagglutinin-5 is also one of the most worrying candidates. This is the reason why these two species are being closely monitored. That is completely reasonable because the influenza virus is showing signs of being active again" - she said.
However, the Russian expert emphasized that people are not completely passive in the face of the risk of the pandemic. We currently have antviruses and vaccines against the flu, so there is no reason to panic, said Malinnikova.
She also called on people to comply with health and epidemiological recommendations, including wearing masks in public places, getting vaccinated periodically, and focusing on personal hygiene and the living environment.
Previously, the Russian Federal Agency for Health Protection of Consumers' Rights and Human Resources (Rospotrebnadzor) said that Russia is recording a seasonal increase in respiratory viral infections and flu.
During this year's epidemic season, the virus is dominated by influenza A(H3N2) - Hong Kong influenza. However, up to 99.5% of cases were recorded at only a mild or moderate level, while only about 1.8% of patients need to be treated at the hospital.
Hong Kong influenza is named after the 1968 pandemic that broke out in Hong Kong (China). The disease later spread throughout the world.
