Yucatan, Mexico /
The state of Yucatan registered your first death due to influenza during 2024 interseasonal seasonadding to a total of 41 deaths reported throughout the country, according to information provided by the General Directorate of Epidemiology (DGE).
Throughout this season, which spans from epidemiological week 21 to 39an alarming trend of infections and deaths related to the disease was observed, marking a increase compared to the previous year.
Compared to the same cutoff date in 2023, the 2024 interseasonal flu season shows significant changes.
Despite there being a 7.9 percent decrease in cases of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI), cases of pneumonia and bronchopneumonia have increased by 3.9 percentwhich reflects a worsening of respiratory symptoms that can lead to severe complicationslike the flu.
Until week 38 of 2024, Yucatán was identified as the state with the highest percentage of influenza cases in the country, concentrating the 23.7 percent of total infections.
Other states with a high number of reported cases include Warrior (8.9%), Campeche (7.7%), Tabasco (6%) and Quintana Roo (5%). These entities in the Mexican southeast show a worrying incidence, with Yucatán leading the figure.
How many deaths were recorded in Mexico?
The balance of the 41 deaths reported nationwide since the beginning of the season indicates a heterogeneous distribution.
The states of Campeche and Quintana Roo stand out with 12.2% of the deaths each, while Guerrero, Jalisco and Veracruz represent the 7.3% each of the deaths.
As to Yucatanalthough this is the first confirmed death from influenza in the entity, a constant monitoring given the high number of cases reported in the state.
States that also reported flu-related deaths include Aguascalientes, Mexico City, Hidalgo, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Sonora, Colima, Guanajuato, San Luis PotosÃ, Sinaloa, Tabasco, Tamaulipas and Tlaxcalaeach with 2.4% of the total deaths.
Although the flu season has not yet reached its climaxhealth authorities warn that the figures reported in recent weeks could be preliminariesas notifications continue to update based on the disease behavior.
The National Epidemiological Surveillance System (SINAVE) emphasizes that last two epidemiological weeks are still under analysis and that the figures could be adjusted as the ongoing studies.
A challenge for the health system
The flu continues to represent a significant challenge for the Mexican health system, which, after the havoc caused by the covid-19 pandemicmust now face a winter season with the threat of severe respiratory diseases.
Health authorities urge the population to get vaccinated against influenzaespecially to vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those with chronic diseases.
​M.O.
