Respiratory viruses, H1N1, SARS-COV 2 are now circulating along with COVID-19

Every fever that you get doesn’t mean you have COVID-19 now. Scientists and doctors said that studies and from OPD cases, they found that seasonal viruses, including H1N1, and SARS-COV2 are currently circulating in the population.

Calling it an “overlapping” season of flu, SARS-COV2 and other respiratory viruses, ICMR-NIV scientists confirmed that seasonal viruses, including H1N1 (swine flu) and H3N2 are now co-circulating with SARS-COV-2. Dengue cases were also on the rise. But, not every fever means COVID-19 now, said a scientist from ICMR-NIV, according to a report in a national daily.

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Even as the number of COVID positive patients are slowly rising in India, hospital OPDs are also seeing a significant rise in dengue, typhoid, gastroenteritis, and bacterial pneumonia. Quoting a Pune doctor, a news report said they were seeing cases of H1N1 influenza (swine flu), which were far fewer during the two years of the pandemic. And that a fever no longer meant COVID.

Viral gastroenteritis, dengue, typhoid may be each about 20-25 per cent of the caseload, while COVID and influenza viruses are likely to be another 25 per cent share.

But COVID and influenza cases are likely to be most predominant in the next six to eight weeks, said the Pune doctor, who also asked people to take their booster shots. A flu shot is being recommended for the elderly, the immunocompromised and children.