Karachi sees surge in flu patients over past 10 days

Hospitals in Karachi have reported a sharp increase in flu cases over the past eight to 10 days as night-time temperatures fall, with health experts urging people to take precautionary measures.

Dr Irfan Siddiqui, head of the emergency department at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), said daily patients with flu-like symptoms had increased from 30-40 to 70-80 over the past week.

He said most patients initially sought treatment at local clinics and visited hospital emergency departments when their condition worsened. The number of cases at JPMC could indicate a wider rise in infections across the city, he added.

Dr Siddiqui said the increase was seasonal, with children, older people and those with weaker immune systems more vulnerable. Many patients arriving at the hospital were aged 18-32, and some were heavy smokers or drug users. He said patients were presenting with severe symptoms and taking longer than usual to recover.

He advised people to maintain good hygiene, wash their hands regularly, stay home when ill, avoid close contact with sick people, remain hydrated and get adequate sleep. He also described annual flu vaccination as an effective way to reduce the risk of infection and complications, while noting its cost and limited availability in private healthcare settings.

Dr Imran Sarwar, head of the emergency department at Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, said daily flu cases had risen from eight to 10 to 30-40. Patients included all age groups, though younger adults were more common.