Hong Kong flu cases are rising in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz – The number of Hong Kong flu cases is increasing in Kazakhstan, Seventh Channel reports.
For example, more and more residents of Astana are complaining about unusually severe cold symptoms. According to them, both children and adults are falling ill. Many experience high fever, a strong cough, and weakness.

“We had a high fever, we were sick for six days, the temperature was nearly 40°C. We were treated at home; we followed the prescriptions. It’s the second day without fever now, and we’re feeling better. Last year it was easier — the temperature was around 38–37, but now it’s close to 40. The whole family got sick,” said one resident of the capital.

Doctors note that children are having the hardest time with ARVI and the flu. Due to the heavy flow of patients, there are constant queues at triage rooms. Mobile medical teams are also overloaded with work.

“At the moment, there are very many sick people, especially among children. Kids aged 14–15 have high fever for a long time, and parents complain that it stays for 5–6 days — and if it goes down, it only drops to 38°C and rises again. We receive up to 40 patients a day, although we’re supposed to take 15,” said Nazym Kurmankulova, a general practitioner at City Polyclinic No. 8.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health reassures the public: the current ARVI situation is not a new epidemic but a typical seasonal virus. Most often, specialists detect the flu A strain known as Hong Kong flu. For example, Almaty has already confirmed 13 such cases, primarily among unvaccinated pregnant women. In Astana, the total number of positive samples has reached 116.

“It was identified in 1968 in Hong Kong — hence the name. It’s a seasonal flu strain that circulates every year. Whichever strain begins spreading first usually becomes dominant. Last year H3N1 dominated; this year it’s H3N2. It causes more severe illness in older people, children under 2, and pregnant women in the third trimester,” explained Aigul Katrenova, head of the Department for Infectious Disease Control at the Ministry of Healthcare.

Meanwhile, according to the report, Almaty has seen an 18% increase in ARVI cases compared to the same period last year. Doctors have hospitalized more than 500 people.

“As of today, the epidemiological situation regarding ARVI and flu is considered stable, but compared to the same period last year, we are observing a slight increase in ARVI cases among the city’s population,” said Asel Kalykova, deputy head of the Almaty Sanitary-Epidemiological Control Department.

According to her, most of the sick are children under 14.
The Ministry of Healthcare clarified that over one million cases of ARVI and 590 cases of flu have been recorded nationwide. Specialists say the real peak is still ahead. Doctors predict that the rise in cases will occur at the end of November — beginning of December.