Outbreak: Winter diseases rampant as smog envelops city

Physicians advise citizens to keep themselves warm and take precautionary measures

LAHORE: City hospitals are witnessing a surge in the cases of flue, nausea, headache and cough in addition to symptoms of depressions and anxiety as winter has just begun with the hazards of smog in the provincial capital.

Physicians have advised citizens to keep themselves warm and take precautionary measures.

“Low cloud, dull and misty conditions tend to bring an increase in the virus causing several diseases,” Dr Salman Kazmi, a physician at Mayo Hospital, said.

Talking to The Express Tribune, he said patients suffering from asthma were likely to suffer severe attacks due to falling temperature and on the other hand environmental pollution causing fog and smog in the city multiply the number of patients suffering from asthma and other chest and respiratory diseases.

Dr Kazmi said the number of patients of flue, fever and nausea was on the rise due to change in the weather and this winter people were more prone to catching the germs due to thick smog.

“Winter is the season for cold and flu so people must keep warm,” he added.



Dr Kamran Ahmed, another physician at Lahore General Hospital, said a certain type of virus can cause upset stomach in addition to respiratory symptoms like sneezing, congestion and fever in winter.

“Another factor that could weaken immune systems is constant exposure of sun these days and chilly winds at night, which can give an port to virus.

“As precautionary measures, people should be more careful about hygiene and wash their hands in order to prevent virus from spreading and by keeping themselves warm,” he said.

“If proper care is not taken, winter diseases could get complicated turning into ear and sinus infections,” he warned.

Humayun Faiz Rasool, a lawyer by profession, said with strict implementation of environmental laws, we could overcome the issue of environmental hazards.

“As all bylaws are already available but the problem is that we have no interest in implementing them due to some vested interest,” he remarked.

“Due to expansion of Canal Road and the Orange Line project, the government has chopped down 3,000 trees in Lahore alone. So how do you think we can save our environment?”

“There is no one to check mushrooming growth of small factories, functioning in Lahore which are the main cause of emission of toxic particles in the air,” he said.

The term “smog” was first used in London during the early 1900’s to describe the combination of smoke and fog that often blanketed the city. Smog is a type of air pollution which is composed of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, ozone, smoke or particulates among others (less visible pollutants include carbon monoxide, CFCs and radioactive sources).

Health experts say smog is usually highly toxic to humans and can cause severe sickness, shortened life or death.

The 20th century has been characterised by a transition from urban air dominated primary pollutants to one where secondary pollutants are very important. Smog can cause breathing difficulties in humans, plus acid rain damage to plants, aquatic systems, and metal or stone objects.

Smog can also accelerate the deterioration of rubber, plastics, paints and dyes. Damage to metals, stone, concrete, clothing, rubber and plastic is directly related to contaminants in the air.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the departments concerned and other agencies to take necessary measures to effectively deal with the situation arising due to the smog.

He has directed that the recommendations of the experts be implemented in letter and spirit for avoiding the effects of smog and special arrangements be made so that the vulnerable segments including children and the elderly people could remain safe from it. The action plan devised to deal with the smog be implemented fully and line departments should work in an organised manner. He said all the necessary steps be adopted to avoid traffic accidents due to smog along with the eradication of environmental changes which are causing the smog. He also said necessary steps should be continued in consultation with the environmental experts because it is very important to overcome the rising environmental degradation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2017.