Flu season in UAE: Residents urged to get vaccinated, test for Covid-19, maintain proper hygiene

Flu season in UAE: Residents urged to get vaccinated, test for Covid-19, maintain proper hygiene

Doctors in the UAE are witnessing an influx of patients contracting seasonal flu and most of them experiencing mild to moderate symptoms.

Healthcare practitioners have repeatedly urged residents to get themselves vaccinated against the seasonal flu, as they see many patients complaining of fever and body ache at their medical centres. Medics see the maximum number of infections and patients suffering from flu between August to February.

Dr Abhinav Gupta, Specialist Internal Medicine, Aster Clinic, Arabian Ranches, said, “A lot of people are getting infected by flu or are contracting cold in the UAE now due to the change in the climate. The main reason behind this is the growth of certain viruses during this time.”

He said, “In the UAE, you are more vulnerable to catching flu during these months (transition from summer to winter). This is because the influenza virus thrives and proliferates at a higher rate when the air is cold.”

Highlighting that while it’s difficult to clinically differentiate between Covid-19 infection and other viral illnesses based on the symptoms alone, testing for Coronavirus may be the only solution, when in doubt.

One differentiator could be “certain symptoms like loss of sense of smell (anosmia) or taste (ageusia) are seen in Covid-19