Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Apr 3: Covid has returned with Jammu and Kashmir witnessing spike in infections for the last few days.
Also, there is a surge in patients with upper respiratory tract symptoms.
A doctor from GMC Srinagar said that SARS COV-2 (COVID-19), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Influenza-A (H1N1, H3N2) and Influenza-B viruses are currently circulating in the community.
He said that these viruses are presenting as cough, fever, sore throat, body aches, running, stuffy nose, etc.
He said that there is need to stay alert and follow COVID Appropriate Behaviour, respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette as it prevents and protects against all respiratory infections.
Another doctor from GMC Srinagar said for the last few months, patients have Covid-19 like symptoms but their results are being found negative. But they are being found positive for influenza H1N1.
He said that there has been surge in patients with cough, fever, sore throat, body aches, running/stuffy nose in last week or so.
Patients have usually Covid-19 symptoms besides fever, mild cough and running nose and few positive patients are currently admitted at the hospital, he said.
He said that there is no need to panic but people must take precautions such as wearing masks and preventing crowding.
A doctor from SKIMS Soura said that good number of patients with upper respiratory tract symptoms are visiting SKIMS.
He said that there is no need to panic, however, elderly people and people with comorbidities and children are more prone to these viruses and they must take precautions like avoid unnecessary gathering and follow proper hygiene.
Many people are taking antibiotics on their own, they said adding that it is not right to take medicine without doctor’s advice and to take antibiotics unnecessarily as medicines need to be given based on symptoms, he said.
Health officials said that the surge in Covid-19 cases was reported in J&K but there is no need to panic.
They said that people in J&K have hybrid immunity because of a combination of widespread natural infection and vaccination.
They said that people with hybrid immunity developed by both vaccination and previous infections have significant protection against future Covid infections.
“Almost everyone has contracted the virus more than once during three Covid-19 waves besides that above 12 years of age whole population is vaccinated, so there are very little chances that any variant can trigger fresh wave as of now here,“ they said
They said that as of now there are around 150 active cases of Covid-19 but most of them are under observation at home.
They said that J&K is ready to tackle any situation in future as well but people must take precautions.
