Flu outbreak in Karachi: Here is what we know so far

Following a surge in flu cases across Karachi, provincial health departments have issued an alert, instructing officials to implement robust measures for disease management, monitoring, and containment.

Though influenza outbreaks are common in the city, this wave appears significantly more intense in terms of virality, infection rate, and patient impact. This season, the H1N1 viral illness, previously known as swine flu, is showing a heightened scale of intensity.

In Karachi, hospitals are admitting patients daily with severe respiratory distress, some of whom have tragically succumbed to complications. While the outbreak has not yet necessitated intervention from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), it is imperative for Karachi’s health authorities to ensure the virus is contained within the city and effectively managed in current hotspots.

According to data from the Sindh Health Department, 248 cases of respiratory diseases have been reported in Karachi in the first one and a half months of the year, with 119 confirmed cases of H1N1.

Moreover, Dr. Irfan Siddiqui, an emergency department doctor at Jinnah Hospital, stated that the H1N1 influenza vaccine is not available at the hospital, posing difficulties for patients. Both the OPD and emergency departments at the hospital are seeing an increasing number of patients with H1N1 influenza.