Government hospitals are dealing with an unusual mix of seasonal summer-related illnesses, viral fever and H3N2 influenza
Published Date – Wed 05 Apr 23 at 09:00am
A man undergoes a blood pressure check at Basti Dawakhana in Hyderabad on Tuesday. Photo: Surya Sridhar
Hyderabad: The seasonal disease situation in and around Hyderabad this year has been tricky as public and government hospitals are dealing with an unusual mix of seasonal summer-related illnesses, viral fevers, H3N2 flu (a severe H1N1 flu) (swine flu) and Covid-positive infections, mostly driven by XBB. 1.1.6, a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 first identified in Maharashtra.
Cases of viral fever, winter-induced upper respiratory tract infection, dengue fever, typhoid fever, and Omicron-induced sporadic Covid infection were active from December to February this year.
Since March, the H3N2 influenza virus has become the main virus circulating in the community, causing influenza-like illnesses such as colds, fever, body aches and persistent coughs, which persist for a long time.
Within weeks, the XBB 1.1.6 variant of SARS-CoV-2 began to gain a foothold in the community, and Covid cases have been rising ever since.
In addition to the new crown virus infection, due to the hot and dry weather, parts of Hyderabad and Telangana are also prone to heat stroke.
“At present, I think people need to take precautions against heatstroke and avoid going out between 12 noon and 4 pm as much as possible. A week later or from now, the temperature in Telangana will continue to exceed 40 degrees Celsius, and people must take measures measures to avoid heatstroke,” said Dr K Shankar, seasonal disease specialist and director of the Fever Hospital.
No sign of threat from Covid
Telangana’s top public health official involved in tracking the development of SARS-CoV-2 insists there is no reason for people to panic over the rise in Covid infections.
“In tertiary government teaching hospitals, including Gandhi, OGH and chest hospitals, there are very few Covid admissions. We have been following the developments in Maharashtra and other neighboring states and there is no evidence of new Covid variants causing hospital admissions The number has increased significantly. People must continue to take basic precautions to avoid exposure to the hot sun in the coming days,” the senior public health official said.
