Over 192 cases of influenza confirmed in Islamabad
NIH official re-issues advisory, urging people to take more fluids and get vaccinated
PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
With the capital facing the last waves of winter, the influenza virus has started to take on the form of an epidemic in the city.
Since the turn of the year, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed some 192 cases of influenza virus in blood samples.
According to an NIH spokesperson, the NIH had received blood samples from 928 suspected influenza patients to screen them for the virus. Of these samples, 192 were confirmed to be positive.
The official added that the seasonal flu is a communicable disease and patients confirmed to have the virus should exercise extreme precaution.
Those affected with influenza have been advised to frequently wash their hands and to keep their mouths covered when sneezing or coughing apart from maintaining a good distance from other people so as to not spread the communicable virus.
The seasonal flu, he said, can spread to others through handshakes or other forms of body contact while spitting in the open can also allow the virus to transfer to other people.
In order to remain safe from the disease, the public has been advised to increase their consumption of water and beverages and to take adequate rest apart from cutting down on social activities.
The official added that the health institute had released a nationwide health advisory on November 20, 2018, to raise awareness about the virus and measures which can be adopted for its prevention and control. The advisory was reissued on January 28 this year, warning people about the presence of the influenza virus in Pakistan and other South Asian countries.
The NIH spokesman has stressed on the need to take all possible measures for prevention and control of influenza virus in the country. Quoting the warning given in the advisory, he said that children, teenagers, underweight people, asthma and diabetic patients and those suffering from heart diseases and compromised immunity including expecting mothers, should take additional measures against the virus as they are considered to be at risk for catching the seasonal flu.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2019.
With the capital facing the last waves of winter, the influenza virus has started to take on the form of an epidemic in the city.
Since the turn of the year, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed some 192 cases of influenza virus in blood samples.
According to an NIH spokesperson, the NIH had received blood samples from 928 suspected influenza patients to screen them for the virus. Of these samples, 192 were confirmed to be positive.
The official added that the seasonal flu is a communicable disease and patients confirmed to have the virus should exercise extreme precaution.
Those affected with influenza have been advised to frequently wash their hands and to keep their mouths covered when sneezing or coughing apart from maintaining a good distance from other people so as to not spread the communicable virus.
The seasonal flu, he said, can spread to others through handshakes or other forms of body contact while spitting in the open can also allow the virus to transfer to other people.
In order to remain safe from the disease, the public has been advised to increase their consumption of water and beverages and to take adequate rest apart from cutting down on social activities.
The official added that the health institute had released a nationwide health advisory on November 20, 2018, to raise awareness about the virus and measures which can be adopted for its prevention and control. The advisory was reissued on January 28 this year, warning people about the presence of the influenza virus in Pakistan and other South Asian countries.
The NIH spokesman has stressed on the need to take all possible measures for prevention and control of influenza virus in the country. Quoting the warning given in the advisory, he said that children, teenagers, underweight people, asthma and diabetic patients and those suffering from heart diseases and compromised immunity including expecting mothers, should take additional measures against the virus as they are considered to be at risk for catching the seasonal flu.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2019.