Hospitals across Kolkata are reporting a rise in Influenza A, including H1N1, with physicians attributing the surge to recent fluctuations in temperature and high humidity. While most patients recover with supportive care, clinicians are seeing an increase in severe respiratory infections requiring hospitalization, particularly among older adults and individuals with underlying comorbidities. At Peerless Hospital, laboratory testing has identified four to five Influenza A-positive cases daily since early this week. Dr.
Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhury, Chief Microbiologist, said several patients have required admission for respiratory distress and severe weakness, most of whom had underlying medical conditions. He noted that selective viral testing likely underestimates the true community burden. Dr. Soumya Sengupta, Head of Pulmonology at Charnock Hospital, reported that Influenza A activity…
