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.

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