Bangaki Abantu Abashona Ngenxa Ye-Flu Unyaka Nonke?

Lapho kuqala ukukhwehlela nokuvunguzela okwenzeka ekwindla, kuyimibuzo eminingi engqondweni yabantu: Ingabe i-flu ibucayi kangakanani ngempela? Sonke siyizwile—umkhuhlane, izinhlungu zomzimba, nokukhathala okukukhipha amandla isonto lonke. Kodwa kwabanye, kuyinto embi kakhulu kunokuzizwa kabi. Ngakho-ke, bangaki abantu abashona ngenxa ye-flu unyaka nonke?

Impendulo akuyona inombolo eyodwa, engaguquki. Iguquka kakhulu kusuka kwesizini eyodwa iye kwelandelayo. E-United States kuphela, izikhungo zezilawuli zezifo (CDC) zilinganisela ukuthi i-influenza ibangele phakathi ukufa okungu-12,000 kuya ku-52,000 unyaka ngamunye emashumini eminyaka adlule. Emhlabeni jikelele, isimo sibi nakakhulu. inhlangano yezeMpilo Yomhlaba (WHO) ibika ukuthi i-seasonal influenza ibangela ukufa okuphefumulayo okulinganiselwa ku-290,000 kuya ku-650,000 unyaka ngamunye.

Lezi azilona izinombolo ezincane. Ziveza iqiniso elibalulekile: i-flu iyisifo esithelelanayo esibi, futhi esibulalayo ngezinye izikhathi. Kulesi sihloko, sizocubungula idatha, sihlolisise ukuthi kungani lezi zibalo ziguquguquka kangaka, futhi sixoxe ngezindlela eziphumelela kakhulu ongazivikela ngazo wena nabathandekayo bakho.

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Ukubuka Izibalo: Ukufa Ngenxa Ye-Flu E-US & Emhlabeni Wonke Ngonyaka

Ukuze siqonde ngokuphelele umthelela we-flu, kuyasiza ukubuka idatha ngokuhamba kwesikhathi. Izibalo zokufa ngenxa ye-flu ngonyaka zembula indawo eguquguqukayo njalo, nezinye izizini ziba zimbi kakhulu kunezinye.

Ukufa Kwaminyaka Yonke Ngenxa Ye-Flu E-US

I-CDC ilandelela umthwalo we-influenza e-United States isebenzisa uhlelo lokumodela lwezibalo. Lokhu kunikeza isithombe esinembayo kunokubala nje izimo eziqinisekiswe elabhorethri. Nansi ukubuka kwezibalo eziyinkomba zokufa kwaminyaka yonke ngenxa ye-flu e-US emashumini eminyaka adlule, ezikhombisa ngokucacile ukuguquguquka kusuka kwesizini eyodwa ukuya kwelandelayo.

Isizini Ye-Flu	Ukufa Okulinganiselwe E-United States
2010–2011	37,000
2011–2012	12,000
2012–2013	43,000
2013–2014	38,000
2014–2015	51,000
2015–2016	23,000
2016–2017	38,000
2017–2018	52,000
2018–2019	28,000
2019–2020	20,000
2021–2022*	5,000

Umthombo: CDC: Past Seasons Estimated Influenza Disease Burden. Qaphela ukuthi isizini ka-2020-2021 ibingenamdlame kakhulu (ayikho ohlwini etafuleni eliyinhloko ngenxa yokuthi yayingenakuqhathaniswa) kanye nenani eliphansi ku-2021-2022, elibangelwa kakhulu yizinyathelo zezempilo yomphakathi ngesikhathi sodlame lwe-COVID-19.

Njengoba ungabona, isizini ka-2017-2018 ibibi kakhulu, ngokulinganiselwa kokufa okungu-52,000, kanti isizini ka-2011-2012 ibibuthakathaka kakhulu. Lokhu kuguquguquka kuyisici esiyinhloko se-influenza.

Isimo Somhlaba Wonke Sokufa Ngenxa Ye-Flu

Lapho sibheka kabanzi, isilinganiso sokufa ngenxa ye-flu emhlabeni wonke simikhulu. Isilinganiso se-WHO esingu-290,000 kuya ku-650,000 sokufa sibala kakhulu ukufa okuhlobene nokuphefumula. Nokho, okunye ucwaningo luphakamisa ukuthi inani langempela lingaba likhulu nakakhulu. Ucwaningo olwashicilelwa kuyi-The Lancet futhi lugqanyiswe yi-Our World in Data luphakamisa ukuthi lapho ufaka ukufa kwe-influenza okuhlobene nokuvuvukala kwenhliziyo, inani eliphelele lokufa ngenxa ye-flu emhlabeni lingaba eduze no-700,000 unyaka ngamunye. Lokhu kugcizelela ukuthi i-flu ingathinta umzimba wonke, hhayi amaphaphu kuphela.

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Kungani Izibalo Zokufa Ngenxa Ye-Flu Ziguquguquka Kangaka?

Ubheka etafuleni elingenhla, ungase uzibuze ukuthi kungani inani lokufa lingaba ngokuphindwe kahlanu ngonyaka owodwa kuqhathaniswa nowunye. Lokhu kuguquguquka okukhulu kwesilinganiso sokufa ngenxa ye-seasonal influenza kubangelwa izici eziningana ezihlobene.

1. Izinhlobo Ze-Flu Ezisangenelelekayo: Ayikho eyodwa nje i-“flu”. Ziningi izinhlobo nezinhlobo ezincane zamagciwane e-influenza (njenge-A/H1N1 ne-A/H3N2) asakazeka unyaka ngamunye. Ezinye izinhlobo zimbi kakhulu noma ziyingozi kunezinye. Izizini ezibanjwe igciwane le-H3N2, isibonelo, ziye zahlotshaniswa namazinga aphezulu okugula esibhedlela nokufa, ikakhulukazi kubantu abadala (umthombo).

2. Ukusebenza Kahle Komgomo Wokugoma: Unyaka nonke, ososayensi bakha umgomo omusha we-flu owenzelwe ukufanisa izinhlobo abazilindele ukuba ziningi kakhulu. Ngezinye izikhathi leli faniso libe lihle kakhulu, futhi umgomo usebenza kahle kakhulu. Eminye iminyaka, igciwane lingase “ligude” noma lishintshe ngemva kokuba umgomo usenziwe, okwehlisa ukusebenza kwawo kahle. Ngisho naseminyakeni lapho ifaniswe kancane, umgomo usahlinzeka ngokuvikeleka okubalulekile ekuguleni okubi, ukugula esibhedlela, nokufa (umthombo).

3. Izabelo Zokugoma: Abantu abaningi abagoma, i-gciwane liyakwazi ukusakazeka kancane. Lokhu kuvikeleka komphakathi (noma “ukuvikelwa komhlambi”) kusiza ukuvikela bonke, kuhlanganise nabobayingozi kakhulu. Lapho amazinga okugoma ephezulu, umthwalo wonke wesifo, okuhlanganisa nokufa, uvame ukuba ngaphansi.

4. Izinyathelo Zezempilo Yomphakathi (I-“COVID Effect”): Isizini ye-flu ka-2020-2021 ibingenamdlame kakhulu, ngokwehlisa kakhulu izibalo zezimo nokufa. Lokhu kwakungekhona ngoba igciwane le-flu lafunywa; kwakungenxa yokuthi izinyathelo zezempilo yomphakathi ezalethwa nge-COVID-19—njengokugqoka imaski, ukuhlalisana kude, nokugeza izandla kaningi—kwakuphinde kube ngempumelelo kakhulu ekumisa i-flu (umthombo). Lesi sikhathi saba yisivivinyo esinamandla sokuphila sangempela sendlela lezi zigabane ezingathinta ngayo ukusakazeka kwe-flu. Lokhu kuphinde kwavela ukuqhathaniswa okuningi kokufa ngenxa ye-flu kune-COVID, kugcizelela ukuthi zombili yizifo zokuphefumula ezibucayi ezingakwazi ukulawulwa ngezindlela ezifanayo zempilo yomphakathi.

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Inselelo Yokubala: Izifo Zokufa Ngenxa Ye-Flu Zibalwa Ngokweqile Kanjani?

Nansi iqiniso elimangaza abantu abaningi: izinombolo ongazibona cishe njalo izilinganiso, hhayi ukubala okuqondile. Kuyivelakancane ukuthi isitifiketi sokufa sibhale “i-influenza” njengembangela eyinhloko yokufa. Ngakho-ke, izifo zokufa ngenxa ye-flu zibalwa kanjani?

Inqubo yinkimbinkimbi. Igciwane le-flu lingumkhiqizi wokulibazisa lapho liza emarekhodini asemthethweni. Liyalihlupha ukuzivikela komzimba, lilungiselela ezinye izizathu zokufa ezisheshayo. Lokhu kuyinto eyahlukene phakathi kokufa ngenxa ye-flu nokufa okuhlobene ne-flu.

Cabanga ngalokhu: * Umuntu omdala ugula i-flu. * Igciwane le-flu libhebhethekisa kakhulu amaphaphu akhe, libangele i-pneumonia ebangelwa amagciwane. * Isiguli sifela khona, futhi isitifiketi sokufa sibhala “i-pneumonia” njengembangela yokufa.

Kwesinye isimo, ingcindezi yokuvuvukala okubangelwa yi-flu ingavusa ukuhlaselwa kwenhliziyo okubulalayo noma unhlangothi kumuntu onesifo senhliziyo esivele sikhona. Kuzo zombili izimo, i-flu yaba yisizathu, kodwa ayitholi “isikweletu” kurekhodi elisemthethweni. Eqinisweni, ukufa ngenxa ye-flu ne-pneumonia kuvame ukuhlanganiswa ezibalweni zabashona ngoba ubudlelwano babo buhlangene kakhulu.

Ukubhekana nalokhu ukubalwa okungaphansi, izinhlangano ezifana ne-CDC zisebenzisa izindlela ezihlakaniphile zezibalo. Zibuka “ukufa ngokweqile”—inani lokufa ngaphezu kwesisekelo esilindelekile ngesikhathi sesizini ye-flu—futhi zihlanganisa lokhu namazinga okuboshwa esibhedlela kanye nedatha ye-flu eqinisekiswe elabhorethri ukuze kulinganiswe umthwalo wangempela wesifo (umthombo). Lokhu kumodela kusinikeza impendulo enembayo kakhulu embuzweni, “bangaki abantu abashona ngenxa ye-flu unyaka nonke?”

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Ubani Owengemba Kakhulu Ezinkingeni Ze-Flu?

Noma ngubani angagula kakhulu nge-flu, leli gciwane aliyona usongelo olufanayo. Impendulo kumbuzo othi “Ingabe i-flu iyingozi? Yini isilinganiso sokufa?” incike kakhulu eminyakeni yomuntu nempilo yakhe eyinhloko. Amaqembu athile athambekele kakhulu ekutholeni izinkinga ezibi njenge-pneumonia, i-bronchitis, nezifo zamachopho, ezingaholela ekuboshweni esibhedlela noma ekufeni.

Nansi imininingwane yobani engemba kakhulu ezinkingeni ze-flu:

• Abadala abaneminyaka engu-65 nangaphezulu: Uhlelo lokuzivikela komzimba oluqotho alubuyeli ngamandla ekuguleni, okwenza abantu asebekhulile babe yiqembu elinamazinga aphezulu okugula esibhedlela nokufa okuhlobene ne-flu.
• Izingane ezingaphansi kweminyaka emi-5, ikakhulukazi izinsana ezingaphansi kwezinyanga eziyisi-6: Izingane ezincane azikabi nazo izinhlelo zokuzivikela ezincane. Izinsana ziyavikeleka kakhulu ngoba zisencane kakhulu ukuba zigonywe.
• Abesifazane abakhulelwe: Izinguquko zamahomoni ngesikhathi sokukhulelwa zithinta uhlelo lokuzivikela komzimba, inhliziyo, namaphaphu, okwenza abesifazane abakhulelwe babe ngabaphathekayo ekuguleni okubi kakhulu kusuka ku-flu (umthombo).
• Abantu abanezimo zezempilo ezingapheli: I-flu ingenza izinkinga zezempilo ezinde zibe zimbi nakakhulu. Lokhu kufaka phakathi abantu abane:
  • I-Asthma nezinye izifo zamaphaphu ezingapheli
  • Izifo zenhliziyo nokuhlaselwa yisifo
  • Isifo sikashukela
  • Izinkinga zezinso noma zesibindi
  • Izimo zezinzwa
• Abantu abahlelo lokuzivikela komzimba olubuthakathaka: Lokhu kufaka phakathi abantu abane-HIV/AIDS, iziguli zomdlavuza eziphathwa nge-chemotherapy, nalabo abasebenzisa imishanguzo eqinile noma eminye imishanguzo yokunciphisa ukuzivikela komzimba.

Kulaba bantu, isimo se-flu singasheshe siphenduke kusuka esifweni esilawulekayo sibe yingozi ebhekene nokufa.

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Ungasiza Kanjani Ekunqandeni Ukufa Ngenxa Ye-Flu

Izibalo zingazizwa zikhulu, kodwa into ebaluleke kakhulu ukuthi sinamathuluzi anamandla okuvimbela ukufa ngenxa ye-flu. Lezi yizenzo ezilula, ezinokuqinisekiswa ezivikela wena, umndeni wakho, nomphakathi wakho.

1. Thola Umgomo Wakho Waminyaka Yonke We-Flu (Ithuluzi Eliyinhloko)

Indlela eyodwa ehamba phambili yokuvimbela i-flu ukugoma unyaka nonke. Umgomo we-flu uphephile futhi usebenza kahle. Uqeqesha uhlelo lwakho lokuzivikela komzimba ukuthi luqaphe futhi lulwe igciwane. Nakuba lingasebenzi ngo-100%, ukugoma kwenza kube kuncane kakhulu ukuthi ugule. Futhi uma ugula ngemuva kokugoma, ukugula cishe kuhlale kuncane, kunciphisa kakhulu ingozi yakho yokuboshwa esibhedlela nokufa (umthombo).

2. Sebenzisa Imikhuba Ephusile Yezempilo

Lawa ngamanye amava esiwafundile (noma aphinde afundwa) ngesikhathi sodlame: * Geza izandla zakho njalo ngensipho namanzi noma usebenzise i-alcohol-based hand sanitizer. * Gwema ukuthinta amehlo, ikhala, nomlomo wakho, ngoba le yindlela eyinhloko yokungena kwamagciwane emzimbeni. * Mboza ukukhwehlela nokuvunguzela kwakho ngethawula lophepha noma isandla sakho. * Hlala ekhaya lapho ugula ukuze ungabhebhethekisi igciwane kwabanye.

3. Cabanga Ngemishanguzo Ye-Antiviral

Uma ugula i-flu, ikakhulukazi uma uyilungu leqembu eliyingozi, thintana nodokotela wakho ngokushesha. Bangase banikeze umuthi we-antiviral njenge-oseltamivir (Tamiflu). Lemishanguzo isebenza kahle kakhulu lapho iqala zingakapheli amahora angama-48 kusukela uqale ukuzwa izimpawu—ezihlanganisa kaningi ukuqala okungazelelwe komkhuhlane, izinhlungu zomzimba, ukudikiza, nokukhathala. Ama-antivirals angakwenza ukugula kwakho kube kuncane, anciphise isikhathi osigulayo, futhi avimbele izinkinga ezibi (umthombo).

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Isiphetho: Ukuthatha I-Flu Ngokungathi

Ngakho-ke, bangaki abantu abashona ngenxa ye-flu unyaka nonke? Abaningi. Izinkulungwane zamakhulu emhlabeni wonke nezinkulungwane ezishuguluphayo e-U.S. ngesikhathi sesizini evamile. Yigciwane elibi elinomthelela omkhulu kodwa oguquguqukayo kakhulu, futhi umthwalo wangempela kunzima ukuwulinganisela ngenxa yezinkinga ezihlobene ne-flu.

Izibalo azihloselwe ukudala ukwesaba, kodwa ukudala ukuhlonipha igciwane nokunika amandla isenzo. Noma singakwazi ukulawula ukuthi yiziphi izinhlobo ze-flu ezizobhebhetheka ebusika oluzayo, singalawula ukulungela kwethu. Siyazi ukuthi ubani osengemba kakhulu ezinkingeni ze-flu, futhi sinethuluzi eliphephile, elisebenzayo lokubavikela.

Ungalibukeli phansi i-flu. Vikela wena nomphakathi wakho ngokuthola umgomo wakho we-flu waminyaka yonke.