Hospitals in Chennai are at capacity due to the influenza outbreak that has been plaguing the city. A survey conducted by the Chennai Public Health Directorate indicates that the number of cases is increasing, leading to the highest number of hospital admissions during the monsoon season.
The flu season has also been exacerbated by monsoon rains, but the city’s weather has also been impacted by cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal.
The flu season lasts from September to January, although the flu season in Chennai peaks in October and November.
According to Dr. TS Selvavinayagam, director of public health, there is an annual spike in fever cases, respiratory conditions, and vector-borne illnesses like dengue.
The state public health department in Anna Salai has been screening blood serum samples from 300 people who have been sick with colds, coughs, and body aches in the last few days.
Almost half of the tested samples from both public and private hospitals tested positive for influenza A, one of the four influenza types.
The most prevalent strain was found to be H3N2, which causes the common flu, followed by H1N1, also referred to as swine flu.
The Coimbatore administration has issued a set of precautionary measures for the public, while Chennai is experiencing an influenza outbreak. They can prevent contracting the flu by taking these precautions.
In a statement, district collector Kranthi Kumar Pati stated that the district’s increase in flu cases is being caused by the northeast monsoon. He suggested wearing masks in crowded areas, drinking boiling water, frequently washing your hands with soap, and eating a lot of protein.
In addition to fever camps, the city is hosting health camps. In order to maintain track of the number of cases, the government also collects data on patients being admitted to both public and private hospitals.
From 20 to 30 cases a day to 50 cases a day, the number of cases has increased. Nonetheless, Coimbatore’s situation is not concerning; the virus is not yet at an epidemic level, and the implemented preventive measures will stop it from spreading.
