Swine flu, other types of influenza, conjunctivitis, Covid, dengue and diarrhoea — a number of viral diseases are being reported from across the city.
Doctors said the predominant among them are the influenza A viruses, which are causing widespread illness and even requiring hospitalisation for elderly patients and those with comorbidities.
Doctors are advising children up to 5 years, adults above 65, pregnant women and those with comorbidities to get vaccinated against influenza.
Chandramouli Bhattacharya, an infectious disease specialist at Peerless Hospital, said H1N1 and H3N2 — both influenza A viruses — have been found to be the most common flu viruses in the current outbreak.
The flu caused by H1N1 is called swine flu, said a doctor.
“A large number of people are getting infected by influenza A viruses. The typical symptoms include a high-grade fever of about 102 or 103 degrees Fahrenheit for two to three days,” said Bhattacharya.
Body ache accompanies fever in most patients.
“In our region, influenza outbreaks are reported during the monsoon. Such outbreaks also happen during winter. Vaccination is a very good defence against influenza,” he said.
“Children up to five years, adults ages 65 or more, those who are immuno-compromised or have comorbidities, pregnant women and healthcare workers should take a flu vaccine immediately.”
There are also sporadic cases of people testing positive for Covid and other viral infections such as rhinovirus, adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus, Bhattacharya said.
Prabhas Prasun Giri, a paediatrician at the Institute of Child Health, said the majority of children with respiratory symptoms are testing positive for influenza.
“There are a few cases of adenovirus, too, but the majority of the children are testing positive for influenza. The Indian Academy of Paediatrics has said influenza vaccination is mandatory for children up to 5 years,” said Giri.
Amitabha Saha, the head of critical care at Manipal Hospitals, Mukundapur, said he has come across a few cases of viral diarrhoea, too. “Most of the (diarrhoea) patients have other symptoms such as fever and respiratory problems,” he said.
In the past week a number of people have come down with conjunctivitis, also called pink eyes or red eyes. A Salt Lake resident had to go back from office last week after realising that he had conjunctivitis, a highly contagious disease.
“I am much better now. I visited an ophthalmologist and started taking eye drops, as advised by him,” he said on Sunday.
The outbreak of viral infections has triggered a spurt in conjunctivitis cases, said Siddhartha Ghosh, an ophthalmologist at Global Eye Hospital in Salt Lake.
Ghosh said the current spate of infections has been continuing for at least a month.
“Inflammation of the eyes, pink eyes, irritation and water discharge from the eyes
are the common symptoms,” he said. Most people are getting well within seven to 10 days.
Ghosh said those infected should avoid going to school and office, and stop swimming till they get well. Those who wear contact lenses should not wear them during the period of infection.
“Those who are infected should always keep their hands clean and should avoid touching objects that others might use. Conjunctivitis is highly contagious and the infected persons should try not to transmit the virus to others,” Ghosh said.
In this deluge of viral infections, there has been a slight uptick in the number of dengue cases, too. Sources in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) said about 40 dengue cases were reported in the seven days till July 21. Altogether, 184 dengue cases have been reported in Calcutta since January this year.