KARACHI: Almost 30% patients suffering from cough and cold are testing positive for COVID-19, although most do not opt for a medical test, leading to undiagnosed cases.
According to Professor Saeed Khan, an infectious disease expert at Dow Hospital, a significant number of people in the city are suffering from cold, cough, and fever. However, upon testing, 25 to 30 percent of these patients are found to be COVID-19 positive.
He further explained that 10 to 12 percent of the patients have been confirmed to have the H1N1 influenza virus, while 5 to 10 percent of children are experiencing respiratory tract infections. Professor Khan noted that the symptoms of COVID-19, H1N1, and other winter viral infections are quite similar, leading many patients to avoid testing and thus hindering the confirmation of these diseases.
Dr. Nizam Sheikh, the Additional MS, shared that Civil Hospital is receiving around 200 patients daily with viral infections, while Jinnah Hospital is seeing a similar number of 150 to 200 patients with the same conditions.
On the other hand, a spokesperson from the Sindh Health Department highlighted that COVID-19 testing facilities are currently unavailable in government hospitals, and since the pandemic, people have stopped getting tested for the virus.
Medical experts have strongly advised citizens to take precautionary measures, such as wearing masks, covering themselves, and getting the annual flu vaccine to protect against these viral infections.
