Yesterday, September 27th, the Mexican Ministry of Health informed in a press conference the technical report and some important points:

As of September 28th, 16 entities Will go under the ORANGE traffic light:

Baja California Sur, Mexico City, Colima, State of Mexico, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Tabasco, Veracruz, Yucatan and Zacatecas.

Epidemiological surveillance is the extent to which governments and states obtain data on the usual incidence and where they detect the increase of cases, in order to establish control and prevention measures.

It has been recalled for years that it is not the purpose of epidemiological surveillance to directly count cases. The counting of cases or events is an element of interest that corresponds to the statistics of the Department of Health to elucidate them.

Influenza was discussed, as the season for this disease is expected to begin in October:

It was established that starting from week 40, that is, in October, it is suggested to meet the prevention actions during the influenza season. Since this disease has an important role in general deaths in Mexico.

In Mexico, 30 thousand deaths occur each year from influenza pneumonia, but they occur mainly in the months of the influenza season. And the symptoms are similar to those of COVID-19:

- Cough
- Fever
- Headache
- Body pain
- Loss of smell or taste

For influenza an antiviral treatment is available, as opposed to COVID-19. But like COVID-19, influenza is more dangerous for: pregnant women, diabetes, lung disease, age 60 or older, comorbidities, and children under 5.

The influenza vaccine has limitations, reducing complications by less than 40%. In Lopez-Gatell's words, it's pretty bad. Because the viruses change so much, the vaccine can be substantially different from the types of viruses that were spreading during the influenza period.

On October 1st, the influenza vaccination season begins in Mexico. The vaccine is free and should be used as a priority for people with risk characteristics.

Related video: Tijuana Secretary of Health