In a reception center for displaced people in Tyre, South Lebanon, the elderly are among the populations at risk of developing complications from the flu. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
As winter approaches, Lebanon remains vigilant for the onset of seasonal influenza, which has yet to emerge but is anticipated soon. The country, grappling with multiple crises since 2019 and emerging from over a year of conflict with Israel that displaced nearly 1.5 million people, is closely monitoring the risk of virus spread. In response, the Health Ministry has initiated a vaccination campaign within reception centers.
"Influenza is defined as a respiratory infection," said Dr. Abdel Rahman Bizri, Saida MP and epidemiologist. According to the Health Ministry, it manifests as "fever, sore throat, headache, body aches, dry cough, nasal congestion and fatigue."
"Symptoms typically begin one to four days after infection and usually last about a week," said the World Health Organization (WHO).
"Influenza is seasonal. It hasn’t started yet, but it will inevitably appear. Its severity varies from year to year because the virus mutates, sometimes leading to an epidemic or even a pandemic," said epidemiologist Pierre Abi Hanna.
"This highly transmissible virus spreads easily among the population and at-risk individuals may develop complications, including pulmonary, cardiac or renal infections, some of which can be fatal," he emphasized. "With the cold, people tend to stay in enclosed spaces and become less resistant to respiratory viruses," added Bizri.
Displaced people vulnerable to influenza
Crowded into schools or reception centers, living in close quarters with poor hygiene conditions, displaced individuals from southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and the Bekaa Valley represent a population highly susceptible to the spread of influenza.
Despite the cease-fire taking effect on Nov. 27, "many displaced people have yet to return home and continue to live in overcrowded conditions," said Randa Hamadeh, director of the Primary Health Care Department at the Health Ministry.
In Lebanon, data on seasonal influenza is lacking, as it is not documented by the Ministry of Health due to its non-mandatory reporting status. However, the Israeli military offensive and the high number of displaced individuals in reception centers have prompted the ministry to assess the contagion risks associated with overcrowding.
"In addition to a donation of 10,000 doses from the WHO, the ministry has purchased an additional 27,000 vaccines to complete the campaign in reception centers," explained Hamadeh. The recipients of these vaccines are individuals aged 65 and older, as well as those over 50 with chronic illnesses.
Pregnant women, children, and adolescents with chronic respiratory issues, such as asthma or heart disease, will also be vaccinated. With many reception centers now empty following the start of the ceasefire, the ministry’s campaign, in partnership with the WHO and UNICEF, "has shifted to primary health care centers in the regions."
By launching the second phase of the campaign on Nov. 20, which remains free and broader in scope, the ministry aims to "reach as many people as possible who are at risk of developing complications from influenza," explained Alissar Rady, head of the technical team at WHO Lebanon. The first phase of the campaign took place in September.
"Influenza should not be taken lightly. The virus can be dangerous," warned Bizri, urging authorities to expand vaccination efforts. With only 37,000 vaccine doses for a population of around six million, the quantity is far from sufficient to achieve herd immunity.
He also calls on the public to adopt preventive measures, as during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as frequent handwashing, wearing masks to prevent transmission, and staying home if experiencing flu symptoms.
This article was originally published in French in L’Orient-Le Jour.
