No reason for people to panic over influenza: Harish Rao

Telangana has seen a slight increase in influenza cases, but there is no cause for concern because there are no signs of the flu cases being virulent, according to Health Minister T Harish Rao on Wednesday.

The government hospitals in Hyderabad and the surrounding districts of Medchal-Malkajgiri, Rangareddy, and Sangareddy have seen a slight increase in outpatient inflow in recent weeks.

However, there was no significant increase in the number of patients requiring inpatient admission and ventilator support due to respiratory distress. Furthermore, he stated that all patients who received treatment in the outpatient wings are recovering from medications and adequate rest within a week to ten days.

Following a review meeting with senior public health officials on influenza cases, Harish Rao urged people with symptoms such as fever, cold, cough, and body pains to seek treatment at their nearest government hospital.

“I urge people not to panic unnecessarily, as influenza cases are self-limiting and there is no rise in inpatient admissions. Since influenza is contagious, there is a definite need for people to take basic precautions like cough etiquette and use masks at public places,” Harish Rao said.

ALSO READ: Telangana faces a resurgence of influenza A virus

Senior health officials including Director of Public Health (DPH) Dr G Srinivasa Rao and Superintendents of all government tertiary hospitals in Hyderabad, who were present in the review meeting, urged people to avoid self-medication or rely on antibiotics.

All the flu symptoms like fever, cough and body pains will reduce with rest and taking normally prescribed drugs and there was no need to take antibiotics unless specifically mentioned by the doctor, they said.