The current flu epidemic in China will last several weeks, but its scale is not greater than it was during the same period before the COVID-19 epidemic emerged, said Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday.

Wu, who is also a national political adviser, said that the COVID-19 control measures imposed over the past three years also helped prevent the spread of the flu, resulting in decreasing immunity against the virus across the population and creating a favorable condition for its transmission this winter and spring.

He added that immunity gained after a COVID-19 infection does not protect against influenza.

"Elderly people and children are the most vulnerable to respiratory diseases. If they experience fever, headache and other symptoms, they should closely monitor their symptoms and visit hospitals immediately if their conditions worsen," he said.