After the chaos of Covid-19, it seemed like the days of masking up were over.
Unfortunately, as they say, history always comes up with some sick rhymes.
Over the past few weeks, East Asia has seen a huge surge of influenza cases in popular travel destinations such as Japan, Thailand, Singapore and unfortunately, Malaysia.
But what exactly is influenza, and what are some of the ways to avoid being bedridden with it during your precious holiday?
The ABCs of Influenza
Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious disease that mainly affects the upper respiratory tract, causing symptoms such as fever, coughs, sore throat and body aches.
It is caused by a series of influenza viruses that are labelled A, B, C and D. Although, A and B are the only ones that most of us will encounter.
And just like Covid-19, it is possible to be infected with influenza without manifesting any obvious symptoms, all the while spreading it to others.
It’s Just a Cold, Right?
Although they share many symptoms, influenza and the common cold are actually distinct diseases with different causes and symptoms:
| Common Cold | Influenza |
| Caused by rhinoviruses | Caused by the influenza virus (A & B) |
| Common symptoms: runny nose, sore throat etc | Common symptoms: fever, chills, bodyaches, runny nose |
| Gradual and milder appearance of symptoms | Sudden and severe symptoms |
As you can see, although they share very similar symptoms, catching influenza is much more serious than a cold, guaranteed to knock you out for at least a week or two at least. You can forget about sticking to your itinerary, let alone enjoying your holiday!
Tip: Taking a test is the only way to reliably confirm whether you have a cold, influenza or coronavirus like Covid-19.
Plus, influenza affects vulnerable groups such as children or the elderly more severely, causing complications which can turn deadly.
What Should I Do?
Now that we’ve sobered up a bit, here’s how to dodge the flu and save some lives. And hopefully keep your vacation, of course.
The first and easiest thing to do is to mask up. Just like Covid-19, flu spreads through droplets expelled via sneezing, coughing, or even talking! Social distancing from sick people can also help your chances.
But one of the most effective ways to stop flu in its tracks is vaccination, which will let your body’s immune system get a head’s up on the virus and prepare its own antibody defenses.
However, all flu vaccinations will lapse over time because the influenza virus constantly mutates and changes quickly, requiring new vaccines each year. So if you had your flu shot a while ago, it’s time to get another.
Although up-to-date flu vaccines are usually available as early as July, it’s highly recommended to vaccinate just before the autumn and winter months, i.e. the influenza season..
You’ll also need at least two weeks for the effects to kick in, so don’t get last minute jabs!
Note: Young children, pregnant women and immunocompromised persons should avoid taking the flu vaccine.
Lastly, if you can afford it, getting some basic travel insurance can help you avoid any painful medical charges if it comes to that.
What if I Get Sick with Influenza?
No worries, although more serious than a cold, a bout of influenza usually passes after a week with the following treatment:
- Get enough sleep and rest
- Drink enough fluids
- Cool down any fevers and treat symptoms
However, if symptoms persist or worsen within a few days, immediately seek out a doctor.
Looking for more travel tips? Find out how to stay safe in our warming world with these survival guides for heatwaves, sunburn and god forbid – tsunamis!
Autumn and winter aren’t just flu seasons, make sure to enjoy the cool seasons too with these fantastic winter festivals, plenty of budget European autumn destinations or even winter hike amidst a Tokyo-adjacent stone quarry!
Links
TIME – As the Flu Surges in Asia, Could Getting Sick Year-Round Be the New Normal?
https://time.com/7324877/flu-asia-japan-india-singapore-influenza-strains-climate-epidemic-pandemic
WHO – Influenza (seasonal)
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal)
UCLA Health – Knowing the difference between a cold and the flu
https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/knowing-difference-between-cold-and-flu