UAE: Why residents must continue wearing masks despite it not being mandatory

UAE: Why residents must continue wearing masks despite it not being mandatory

Healthcare specialists have urged residents to maintain similar precautionary measures during flu season

Published: Sat 8 Oct 2022, 8:05 AM

As daily Covid cases see a decline and mask rules relax, medical professionals have started recording an increase in cases of other viral infections.

Healthcare specialists have urged residents to maintain similar precautionary measures especially during flu season.

“It is no surprise that as regulations have been relaxed, the number of flu cases has dramatically risen,” said Dr Nikita Singh, specialist internal medicine, Aster Clinic, Business Bay.

“It is important to remember that they are all mostly RNA viruses, including influenza, parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, and adenovirus. Their mode of transmission remains the same - the droplet method of infection. In addition, these viruses also proliferate during weather changes - like the transition from summer to autumn and then winter,” said Dr Singh.

Doctors also highlighted that weather changes and schools operating at maximum capacity cause an increase in cases of the viral infections of the upper respiratory tract. “Infections due to influenza, adenovirus, and many other viruses that cause the symptoms of cold, throat pain, cough, body ache, and fever,” said Dr Zaineb Sabri, specialist internal medicine, Medcare Hospital, Sharjah.

“Other diseases such as gastritis