Season-change viruses on the rise even as Covid cases decline
Kolkata: While Covid is on the verge of making a complete exit, other
season-change viruses
have started filling the void. The Covid outbreak had kept them in check over the last three weeks. Cases of
rhinovirus
, metapneumovirus, and
influenza A and B
, as well as streptococcus pneumonia, are already on the rise, while a couple of cases of swine flu, too, have been reported.
"As Covid cases started sliding, we started receiving influenza, parainfluenza, metapneumovirus, and rhinovirus, though they are still few in number. With the temperature sliding suddenly with the onset of the monsoon, there could now be a spurt. The other viruses are making a comeback," said Peerless Hospital chief microbiologist Bhaskar Narayan Choudhury.
"Like during the pandemic, this outbreak, too, saw Covid ruling out other infections. This happens during any outbreak, be it influenza or adenovirus. When one virus dominates, others tend to recede. It was no different this time, though Covid numbers have gone down sharply. In another two to three days, we would be back to where we were three months ago," said CMRI Hospital pulmonology director Raja Dhar.
"Influenza A and B, rhinovirus, and human metapneumoviruses are crawling back. We are witnessing exacerbations of asthma and COPD due to viruses. Several had to be admitted with fever, cough, and breathlessness," said Charnock Hospital pulmonologist Soumya Sengupta.
At a Jodhpur Park hospital, an eight-year-old child has been admitted with a simultaneous infection of streptococcus pneumonia, influenza A and B, and H1N1 or swine flu.
Seasonal viruses are highly contagious, so an outbreak is difficult to prevent in the pre-winter period, said Manipal Hospital infectious diseases physician Sayan Chakrabarty.
"Over the past few days, we are observing a noticeable surge in viral
respiratory infections
, many resembling illnesses caused by pathogens like Influenza A/B, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and seasonal adenoviruses. Patients typically have fever, sore throat, dry cough, and fatigue," said Abhijit Aich Bhaumik, senior consultant physician, BP Poddar.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
19 minutes ago
- News18
Why Are Younger People Suffering More Heart Attacks Post-COVID?
Last Updated: Heart attacks are rising among young adults post-COVID, driven by hidden risks and lasting effects of the virus. In recent years, heart attacks among young adults have been on the rise—a shift that has become more pronounced since the COVID-19 pandemic. Once considered a disease of older age, cardiovascular events are now increasingly seen in younger individuals due to a mix of direct viral effects, lifestyle disruptions, and hidden health risks. While initially recognized as a respiratory illness, COVID-19 has since been shown to exert significant and lasting effects on the cardiovascular system. The virus promotes inflammation in blood vessels, increases blood coagulability, and can trigger spikes in blood pressure—mechanisms that elevate the risk of heart attacks, particularly in patients with existing but often undiagnosed conditions such as high LDL cholesterol, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Dr. Sarita Rao, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, shares all you need to know: Emerging evidence supports this growing concern. A large-scale study involving over 150,000 individuals with a history of COVID-19 infection found substantially increased risks of myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmias, and stroke—even in those with no prior heart disease. A recent NIH-supported study published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology further revealed that people infected during the pandemic's first wave had double the risk of major cardiovascular events, with those hospitalized facing up to a fourfold increase. This elevated risk persisted for up to three years post-infection, often rivaling or exceeding traditional risk factors like diabetes. Although mild COVID-19 cases do not appear to significantly raise heart attack risk directly, the broader lifestyle and environmental consequences of the pandemic have had a substantial impact on young adults' cardiovascular health. Importantly, vaccination has emerged as a protective factor. Studies from multiple countries—including India, the U.S., South Korea, and the U.K.—have demonstrated that vaccinated individuals are less likely to suffer from acute cardiac complications, largely due to reduced illness severity and better preservation of lipid profiles. Ultimately, the rise in heart attacks among younger adults is not merely a consequence of COVID-19 but a reflection of deeper, multifactorial vulnerabilities that the pandemic has brought to the surface. The convergence of genetic predisposition, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, environmental exposures, and chronic stress has created fertile ground for early cardiovascular disease. COVID-19 has acted as both a trigger and an amplifier of these underlying risks. Addressing this growing crisis demands a comprehensive approach—one that includes early cardiovascular screening, preventive care, promotion of healthy behaviors, and robust public health interventions. As we move forward in the post-pandemic era, prioritizing heart health in younger populations is essential to reversing current trends and securing a healthier future. Dr. Sarita Rao, Senior Interventional Cardiologist & Director Cathlab, Apollo Hospitals Indore
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Long work hours taking toll on doctors' mental health: Experts
Patna: Who saves the saviour — this is a million-dollar question modern-day medical practitioners face. Long working hours, huge patient load and emotional stress witnessing deaths on a day-to-day basis takes a toll on their mental health. Doctors fight their own silent battles: their mental well-being, behind stoic masks worn in hospitals. This year's theme of National Doctors' Day, marked on July 1 — 'Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers?' — highlights this often-overlooked struggle. Dr Santosh Kumar, head of the dept of psychiatry in Nalanda Medical College, said a doctor's life is inherently stressful. "There is a higher suicide rates among doctors. Long work hours, especially for junior doctors, largely impact their mental health. Many do not get enough time for essential activities like sleep and exercise. Those posted in emergency department are also vulnerable due to the demanding work culture there," he said, adding that recent studies have found 30.1% of health-care professionals suffer from depression, with 16.7% having suicidal thoughts. Approximately two-thirds experience moderate stress (67.2%) and 13% face high levels of stress. According to Dr Niska Sinha, senior psychiatrist at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, the mental health of doctors is a concerning issue, with many physicians experiencing burnout, depression and anxiety due to the high-stress nature of their job. "In places like Bihar, the doctor-patient ideal ratio is low, which leads to excess workload. There is also a lot of expectation. Burnouts among doctors have increased after Covid-19, and there is a stigma associated with mental health in the medical profession. Doctors are supposed to be strong. There are also professional barriers in seeking help from a doctor, no privacy because of being in the same profession," she said, adding factors such as long working hours, high patient loads, lack of resources and the emotional toll of dealing with suffering and death contribute to these issues. She suggested that providing safe and confidential access to mental health services can help physicians feel more comfortable seeking help. "Addressing the mental health of doctors requires systemic reforms, cultural shifts and improved support structures. Implementing policies to ease burdens and promote work-life balance can help reduce burnout and improve mental health. By prioritising physicians' well-being, we can ensure high-quality patient care and sustain the healthcare system in the long run. We need to save the saviour," she said.
The Hindu
30 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Karnataka HC orders BBMP, govt. to clear ₹10.41 crore COVID dues to private health centres pending since 2022
The High Court of Karnataka has directed the State government and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to pay ₹10.41 crore to two private health establishments towards the pending dues to them for providing COVID-19 testing facilities way back during 2020-2022. Two petitions Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar issued the directions while allowing the separate petitions filed by BGS Global Institute of Medical Sciences, Kengeri and Vijayalakshmi Diagnostics Pvt Ltd (VDPL), Nagarbhavi. BGS had sought directions for release of ₹4.53 crore and VDPL had sought release of ₹5.88 crore while pointing out that the authorities, though have admitted payment due to the petitioners, had said that they were unable to release the remaining amount due to pendency of enquiry before a One-Man Commission of Inquiry into the irregularities occurred during COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2023. The petitioners have said that the payment of the remaining amount is pending since 2022. The BBMP had told the court that it had sought permission from the commission of inquiry to release around ₹44 crore to various establishments towards the balance amount due for providing various health services during COVID-19, but the commission had rejected their request pending inquiry. Not under inquiry However, the court said that non-payment of dues in relation to RT-PCR tests conducted by the petitioners was not the subject matter of the inquiry before the commission. 'It is clear that in the light of the undisputed/admitted fact that the BBMP had not paid the legitimate dues payable to the petitioners, in the absence of any material to show any kind of nexus or connection whatsoever between the liability of the BBMP and the inquiry commission, it cannot be said that the BBMP was not liable to pay/clear the legitimate dues payable to the petitioners,' the court said while directing release of the amount to the petitioners within six weeks.
