The National Emergency Operations Committee (COE) of Ecuador announced the strengthening of its influenza vaccination campaign across its entire territory. The measure aims to anticipate a possible outbreak, given that a sustained increase in this flu strain is already being observed in North America.
Vice President of Ecuador and current head of the Ministry of Health, María José Pinto, provided an update on the resources available to handle this contingency:
- Doses available: The country has a supply of over 4.5 million vaccines.
- Vaccination progress: More than 250,000 people have already been immunized, prioritizing children under six and the elderly.
- Recommendations: The public was urged to wear a mask if they have symptoms, wash their hands frequently, and avoid self-medication as respiratory health consultations increase.
The COE meeting included key figures from the Executive branch, who highlighted that while the A H3N2 virus is not new, surveillance of the K variant is crucial to prevent the saturation of hospital services.
The main objective is to prevent the arrival and circulation of the A H3N2 subclade (variant) K, a mutation that has set off international alarms due to its impact on the health systems of Europe, Asia, and the United States. Although no confirmed cases of this specific variant have been registered in the Andean country to date, health authorities have intensified epidemiological monitoring and weekly reports.
