Surge in the Influenza and other respiratory viral infections- Many affected now in Chennai!!
In Chennai, the doctors are worried now regarding the influenza virus and other respiratory viral infections affecting many people that too months before the actual season. The infectious diseases experts are now having doubt regarding whether flu has become an endemic threat. The issues like fever, cold and cough in the patients are due to Influenza A virus.
It was later brought to light by a senior infectious diseases expert Dr .Ramasubramaniam that in 2024 infections began in the month of August and was there until the month of April. He added that the vaccines for flu come by the end of June or August and most people were affected before taking vaccines.
Various reasons for the surge in influenza and respiratory viral infections are political, religious and entertainment congregations, travel, weather conditions etc. It is worthy to note here that unlike in the West, flu in India occurs at different times at different parts of the country throughout the year. Usually, it occurs at the onset of monsoon in June-July in Kerala and from Oct-Nov in Chennai. There are peaks or outbreaks of flu at different times in a year.
Increased testing has also been responsible for the surge in the flu now. Truth is that anywhere from 1500 to 3500 tests are being conducted in a person for flu, Covid and respiratory viral infection etc. It is learnt that most people tested positive for H2N3 which is a subtype of Influenza virus. There are also sporadic cases of dengue, RSV and other infections now in the city. The fact is that while most patients recover from body pain and fatigue etc in a week but are left with persistent coughs that last for about a month also.
Not only cough syrups and throat lozenges but also hot water gargle for adults and honey for kids have been recommended by the doctors in Chennai now. As per a senior paediatrician Dr. S. Balasubramanian it was clear that most kids are admitted in the hospitals for nebulisation and they recover quickly.
It was mentioned by Dr. P. Sampath, who is the additional director of public health (disease control) that various measures taken during the Covid pandemic would be the best prevention methods against all types of viral based infections. Wearing facemasks in the public places and drinking clean water and washing hands regularly etc would help in prevention and spreading of the infections.
