Bangkok: Dr. Yong revealed that four major viral respiratory diseases are becoming more common, while COVID-19 arrived later than usual this year but the symptoms are less severe.
According to Thai News Agency, Professor Yong Poovorawan, MD, Royal Academician and Head of Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, shared insights on his personal Facebook page concerning the four prominent respiratory viral diseases that draw considerable attention annually.
Typically, COVID-19 outbreaks emerge every year beginning in May. However, this year, the virus's arrival was notably delayed and has only recently begun to spread. While the number of cases is expected to increase, the symptoms are reportedly less severe than in previous years.
Influenza cases are also on the rise this year, with influenza A H3N2 being the predominant strain. This strain is primarily affecting schoolchildren and is likely to spread within schools, communities, and crowded places such as prisons.
Rhinovirus, although prevalent throughout the year, peaks during the rainy season and primarily causes the common cold. Being heat-sensitive, infections mostly occur in the throat and nose, but in severe cases, it can affect the bronchi, leading to bronchitis. The most common strain, C, affects almost all age groups, with a higher prevalence among school-aged children.
RSV begins its seasonal outbreaks in July, concluding by November. This illness impacts individuals of all ages, with frequent cases among young children under one year old and the elderly. By November, the incidence typically diminishes, and the disease wanes naturally. Preventative measures, akin to those for COVID-19, include handwashing, avoiding contact with sick individuals, and wearing a mask to reduce disease transmission, along with consuming clean food.