Staff Reporter:
Fifty seven percent of patients who come to the hospital with fever, cold, cough, headache, and body aches this year are infected with influenza, according to data of IEDCR and icddr,b.
The outbreak of fever is spreading across the country as people regardless of ages are getting infected with this fever.
Various symptoms including severe pain in the body are appearing along with the fever. The infected have to suffer for one to two weeks. Even after the fever gets better, physical weakness remains for long. Children, the elderly, patients with respiratory distress and those with low immunity are suffering more.
Whenever someone gets a fever, it comes in mind whether he or she is infected by dengue or chikungu-nya.
However, this year people are being infected with influenza virus in most cases.
This year compared to the last few years, many more people are getting infected with this virus.
Experts say that this year, most people are infected with seasonal fever. Patients are coming with fever for two to three days. If one person has fever, others in the family also get fever.
The symptoms are almost the same. Fever caused by common viruses and respiratory tract infections is more common.
Experts advised that if mild symptoms appear, one should not get panicked rather he or she should take rest at home, drink enough water, maintain cleanliness, wear a mask, and drink hot liquids.
Antibiotics should not be taken in any way during the first three days of fever without the advice of a doctor.
An analysis of data from several hospitals in different parts of the country, including the capital, has shown that the pressure of patients bringing fever to hospitals has increased for some time.
The demand for fever medicines has increased this month compared to last month. Tests have increased during this time.
Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Advisor Dr. Md. Mushtaq Hossain said influenza is increasing this year. Dengue and chikungunya are also increasing this year compared to last year, he said.
He said during this time, one should not be afraid of fever and should immediately seek medical advice.
“If one gets a fever, he or she should not get panicked rather should take liquid food frequently during this time,” he said.
In July this year, IEDCR and International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) conducted influenza surveillance on 1,847 patients with symptoms such as high fever, cough and body ache in 19 hospitals.
It was found that about 57 percent of the infected people were infected with influenza. About 6 out of every 10 people were infected with influenza. In 2023, this rate was much lower; 25 percent. In 2024, the highest infection was in June; 37 percent. This is the highest detection rate in a month since 2007, according to IEDCR.
According to the World Health Organization, seasonal flu is caused by respiratory infection with the influenza virus, which is spread through sneezing and coughing.
The IEDCR has advised people to wash their hands frequently with soap, follow cough protocol, stay away from healthy people if they have fever, cough, or shortness of breath, avoid public gatherings as much as possible, and use masks if necessary.
