Erring on the side of caution as influenza cases rise in the State Premium
The Hindu
Officials seek to assuage fears of a surge in H3N2 and COVID-19 infections as cases of influenza are reported widely across Andhra Pradesh
The State is in the grip of seasonal illnesses, with lakhs of people reportedly suffering from fever, headache and related ailments for days. The rise in such cases, meanwhile, is leading to fears of an outbreak of H3N2 influenza virus and COVID-19.
During the past few weeks, lakhs of fever cases accompanied by cough and prolonged headache were reported across the State.
This month, as of March 21, over 2.29 lakh fever cases were reported in the State according to data obtained from the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), a Central government’s initiative which is being effectively used by the State government’s Health Department. Till March 8, nearly 77,000 lakh fevers were reported.
However, officials say there is no abnormal rise in fever cases. In January, 3.34 lakh fever cases and in February, 3.27 lakh cases were registered. Many more cases are reported at private hospitals as a large number of people in urban areas get treated there.
Health and Family Welfare Department Commissioner J. Nivas said that the COVID-19 positivity rate in the State is negligible at 0.3%.
“Fever survey is being conducted to find symptomatic cases and it was taken up as a precautionary measure,” Mr. Nivas said, adding that there was no cause for alarm as there are no cases of respiratory illness.
Explaining the methodology of reporting fever cases in the State, Mr. Nivas said that all the health sub-centres, Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and laboratories are uploading all the fever case details to the IHIP to check the prevalence of the diseases. The number of cases is an indication of the outpatient cases. Going by these reports, there is no rise in the cases, Mr. Nivas said.