KARACHI: Seasonal influenza cases are rising rapidly in Karachi, with major public hospitals reporting a substantial increase in patients seeking medical treatment.
Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) is receiving more than 80 influenza patients every day, according to Dr Irfan Siddiqui, Administrative Coordinator and In-charge of the hospital’s Emergency and Resuscitation (ER) Department.
Dr Siddiqui said the number of flu patients at JPMC had doubled, linking the growing infections to changing weather patterns, dust and rising air pollution.
He cautioned that influenza was spreading quickly among family members, with the infection potentially affecting an entire household after one person contracts the virus.
A similar trend has been observed at Civil Hospital Karachi, where more than 50 influenza patients are reportedly visiting the facility daily.
Dr Faisal Mahmood said flu cases had witnessed a rapid increase across the city over the past one to two months.
He estimated that around 200 cases had been recorded in recent months, adding that the actual number could be considerably higher as many patients do not undergo laboratory testing.
Dr Mahmood noted that influenza infections generally reach their peak during December and January. However, the current wave had begun earlier than usual this year.
Meanwhile, the growing number of influenza infections has coincided with a shortage of seasonal flu vaccines across Pakistan, with vaccines produced by both multinational and Chinese manufacturers reportedly unavailable in the market.
Drug control officials said stocks of influenza vaccines supplied by Chinese manufacturers had been exhausted, while fresh supplies from multinational pharmaceutical companies were expected to reach the country in November or December.
Concerns have also emerged over attempts to market suspected counterfeit influenza vaccines amid limited supplies, prompting questions about the availability of safe and authentic doses for the public.
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