Mumbai: COVID-19, that dreaded term, is back in discussion.
Long after the disease caused by coronavirus stopped being a nuisance, it seems to have reared its head again in Mumbai.
India’s financial capital is facing a simultaneous spike in COVID-19, H1N1 (swine flu), Influenza A, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infections.
Major hospitals as well as private nursing homes have reported a heavy influx of patients with high-grade fevers and severe upper respiratory tract discomfort, reported News18.
The OPDs had to primarily deal with swine flu patients for nearly a month. Over the past week, COVID-19 has made a sudden comeback.
At least seven COVID or H1N1 cases are being detected daily at laboratories at Breach Candy Hospital and other hospitals, according to the Times of India.
The infections are triggering high fever (102°F-103°F), body aches and deep chest congestion, making them difficult to tell apart without diagnostic PCR panels, according to reports.
Besides respiratory ailments, OPDs at Fortis Hospital (Mulund) and other facilities have seen a rise in viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) cases.
BMC executive health officer Dr Daksha Shah and city epidemiologists are of the opinion that the sudden surge is linked to ongoing weather changes.
They feel that due to the delayed monsoon, excessively high humidity and stagnant atmospheric conditions have facilitated the respiratory viruses to float and linger in the air longer than expected.
Medical experts and government Health department officials expect the caseload to come down after steady, heavy rains set in and flush out the air.
The COVID strain currently active in Mumbai has proved to be mild so far in majority of the cases. Senior pulmonologists have, however, warned that the elderly, pregnant women and individuals with comorbidities (diabetes or chronic lung conditions) face a higher risk of complications.
Medical advisory
People have been advised not to take random antibiotics or paracetamol without a prescription as it can mask severe underlying protocols or lead to drug resistance.
Health department has advised wearing face masks in heavily crowded public zones (like local trains or markets) and practising consistent hand and cough hygiene.
Anyone in a high-risk group should maintain a regular check on oxygen levels and body temperature with a pulse oximeter. Immediate medical advice should be sought if breathing becomes laboured.
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