With costly flu vaccine not included in EPI, vulnerable groups with weak immunity are at high risk of infection
KARACHI:
The super flu virus, also known as Influenza A, H3N2, has secretly made its way into almost every home in the port city. Appearing every year from October to March, the virus affects millions of people across the province however, very few have acquired immunity through vaccines.
Every winter, the flu virus severely affects vulnerable groups including the elderly, pregnant women, newborns and children up to five years of age. Despite this, the Sindh government has not considered it necessary to include the flu vaccine in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). The flu vaccine is available privately at a cost ranging from Rs5,000 to Rs10,000, which most people cannot afford. Medical experts opined that for a province with a population of approximately 65 million, the flu vaccine should be included in the EPI.
The Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital Karachi, Dr Khalid Bukhari, revealed that due to cold weather, fog, and other factors, the influenza virus was spreading in Karachi and had currently taken the form of a super flu. “More than 100 patients are being reported daily, and the numbers are only increasing. The virus is highly contagious, often infecting entire households, with coughing becoming more severe. People must avoid cold water, cold drinks, and sour foods, and get tested if flu symptoms appear,” urged Dr Bukhari.
According to the emergency department of Jinnah Hospital, more than 120 patients with flu, cough, and various types of allergies are being reported daily. In the meanwhile, asthma patients are facing severe difficulties in the current weather. They advised that during cold weather, people suffering from flu, cold, and cough should inhale steam from warm water and avoid the use of cold water.
General physician Dr Khawaja Anwar confirmed that the flu virus variant had changed, making it more severe, therefore, he urged pregnant and breastfeeding women to take extra precautions. “If a mother contracts the flu, newborns can also be infected and may face breathing difficulties. It is crucial to avoid going out in cold winds, use warm water, keep children properly covered, and consume warm homemade foods such as soup. Negligence could lead to pneumonia in young children. People with weak immunity should increase their vegetable intake and avoid keeping children under fans,” implored Dr Anwar.
Pakistan Medical Association General Secretary Dr Qaiser Sajjad revealed that influenza, like the coronavirus, appeared every winter, but this year the virus had mutated and become more powerful, prompting experts to call it a super flu. Almost every household in Karachi is affected, with patients suffering from high fever, sore throat, dry cough, body aches, and severe weakness.
“Influenza is a viral disease treated symptomatically, though antibiotics are prescribed to prevent secondary infections. The virus is highly contagious and poses greater risk to children, the elderly, and people with diabetes, hypertension, or cancer,” noted Dr Sajjad, who stressed the need to boost immunity, follow preventive measures, and include the flu vaccine in the EPI program.
