File picture used for representation
Doha: With a change in weather conditions, hospitals and clinics across the country have reported a surge in seasonal flu cases and senior health officials and healthcare providers have advised the public not to underestimate the flu this year.
In September, the Ministry of Public and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) launched the annual seasonal influenza vaccination campaign, allowing people to get vaccine for free.
Qatar generally has a very hot and humid climate in summer and is very cold during the winter. Many infectious diseases among people are very common when seasons change. Influenza is one of them.
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by the influenza virus. Two common types of influenza viruses are Influenza A and Influenza B. Influenza B spreads from human to human commonly, whereas A is usually transmitted from animals to humans, according to Dr. Jacob Neil, Specialist, Internal Medicine and Medical Director, Wellkins Medical Centre.
“Symptoms can range from mild to severe. The most common symptoms include a high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pains, headache, cough, and feeling tired. Viral pneumonia is a serious complication of influenza,” he told The Peninsula.
“The influenza virus spreads from person to person and infected individuals are most contagious in the first three to four days after their illness begins.
“The symptoms typically begin about two days after the virus infects the respiratory tract. For most people, influenza resolves on its own, but sometimes influenza and its complications can be deadly,” he added.
Dr. Neil said people at higher risk of developing flu complications include children under 5 years of age especially those under 2, adults older than 65, residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, pregnant women, people with a compromised immune system, people who have chronic illnesses, such as asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes.
Dr. Mary S Metreenj, General Practitioner, Wellkins Medical Centre, said, “Prevention of Influenza includes avoiding close contact with people who show respiratory illness or flu-like symptoms, maintaining hand hygiene, and wearing a mask in crowds.
“Also, those who have symptoms should take additional responsibility and wear masks voluntarily if going to places where close contact is possible, to prevent the spread to others,” she said, adding that the best protection against influenza would be vaccination.
“The flu shot also reduces the illness’s severity and hospitalisation risk,” said Dr. Metreenj.
Members of the community are able to receive their free seasonal influenza vaccines at all primary health centers, Hamad Medical Corporation outpatient clinics and at more than 45 private and semi-private clinics and hospitals across Qatar.
