NIH issues guidelines to prevent flu outbreak

Pakistan experiences an upsurge in flu cases every winter

ISLAMABAD:

Flu viruses such as Influenza are modifying themselves with each passing year leading to the likelihood of the emergence of new types of flu viruses. This makes the Influenza virus an unpredictable disease with varying extent of spread, timing, severity, and length.

Similarly, flu cases see an upsurge in Pakistan every year, especially during the winter season, particularly with the fall of temperatures in the months of December and February. Currently, in the wake of an upsurge of influenza cases in different parts of the country, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Islamabad has issued an advisory guide for the prevention and control of the seasonal Influenza virus.

The objective of this advisory is to alert and facilitate the health authorities and other stakeholders for ensuring timely preventive and control measures encompassing preparedness to deal with the increased workload expected in the outpatient and in-patient departments at hospitals during the next few months.

The advisory discussed that Influenza (seasonal flu) can easily spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing or can contaminate hands and other surfaces. Patients with chronic diseases (such as asthma, diabetes, cardiac and lung diseases etc.) pregnant women, elderly people, and children under the age of 5 are at a higher risk of developing severe or complicated infections.

According to the advisory, vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infections and other severe outcomes caused by influenza viruses, particularly in high-risk groups. As per the guidelines, frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and clean water is advised, use sanitizers, cover mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing, keep social distance and take rest and avoid social gatherings.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2022.