Telangana DPH issues seasonal flu advisory as temperatures set to drop

Hyderabad: The Director of Public Health (DPH), Telangana on Thursday issued an advisory urging the public to take precautions against seasonal flu and spread of acute respiratory infections, as the temperatures are expected to drop by at least 2 degrees Celsius to 3 degrees Celsius in the coming days.

Seasonal flu is an acute and contagious respiratory infection characterized by fever, cough, sore throat, body ache and fatigue and it spreads easily between people when they cough or sneeze, the advisory said.

People with seasonal flu are advised to rest at home, drink plenty of fluids, and usually recover on their own within a week. The vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children under 5 years, senior citizens and individuals with chronic medical conditions are at greater risk of severe illness. If they develop seasonal flu symptoms then they are advised to consult a doctor immediately, DPH, Dr Dr.B.Ravinder Nayak said.

If individuals having the warning signs such as high fever, difficulty in breathing, blue colour of skin or lips, blood in sputum or altered behavior should, then they should consult the doctor immediately, he added.

To Do:

• Cover mouth and nose with a handkerchief/tissue paper during cough or sneeze.
• Wash hands often with soap and water.
• If you have fever, cough and sneezing, avoid stay away from public places
• Drink plenty of water and eat nutritious food.
• Adequate ventilation with outdoor air is recommended in all settings to reduce the transmission

Don’ts:

• Avoid shaking hands
• Avoid reuse of tissue paper or handkerchief
• Avoid crowded places, frequent touching of eyes, nose & mouth
• Avoid spitting in public places and self-medicate