NICD: Spike in flu and pneumonia in 6 provinces
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases says we shouldn't confuse the term swine flu with the seasonal influenza strains that are going around.
They say this will cause unnecessary panic.
The NICD says it's seen a spike in flu-like illness and pneumonia in all six provinces where surveillance is conducted since April.
Medical expert Dr Angelique Coetzee says there should be no confusion at all - as flu is flu.
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She says for past few years, many people were not exposed to the flu virus because of the Covid protocols being followed - like isolation, social distancing, and mask-wearing.
"What we now see is people are back to normal life once they get sick they do not wear their mask, they go back to work. They need to make you aware that you are contagious toe to three days before you start with flu symptoms.
“Once you have your symptoms, you are still contagious up until five to seven days after your symptoms improve. So if you go to work without a mask knowing that you are sick, you will infect the people around you."
