The city is in the grip of Adenovirus outbreak

In the metropolitan city of Karachi, the outbreak of Adenovirus (ADV) has surged uncontrollably, an alarming trend attributable to the combination of climate change and environmental pollution. Individuals affected by ADV have been flooding hospitals, presenting with a characteristic set of symptoms, including headaches, chills, a persistent cough, cold, and fever. Moreover, a sharp increase in diarrhoea cases has also been observed.

According to healthcare officials in the city, the daily influx of patients showing these symptoms in government hospitals exceeds a thousand. For instance, Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital registered 782 cases of ADV and acute respiratory tract infection on a single Saturday, and then a staggering 1,275 cases just two days later, on Monday.

Dr Harish Kumar, the Assistant Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital, reveals that instances of cold, cough, and fevers have shown a significant upsurge in the past three weeks. Patients arriving at the hospital with complaints of fever and sore throat are administered antipyretics, antibiotics, and cough medicines. The meteorological conditions, characterized by cold nights and evenings and scorching afternoons, are contributing to the escalating numbers. Other exacerbating factors include climate change and environmental pollution.

Although patients predominantly present with symptoms inclusive of headache, a runny nose, fever and chills, there have been zero anomalies in their blood pressure levels. On average, the fever subsists for around a week. Dr Kumar recommends particular care for susceptible groups such as children and the elderly, encouraging citizens to adopt hygienic practices such as wearing masks, ingesting boiled water, and eschewing junk food.

Agreeing with his commentary, Dr Abdul Latif Shaikh, Chief Medical Officer of Civil Hospital, states that 90 per cent of the reported cases are attributable to viral infections, whereas the rest stem from bacteria. Consequently, Dr Imran, the emergency in charge of Civil Hospital, discloses an alarming increase in diarrhoea cases. Previously, the hospital reported four to six diarrhoea cases per day but now faces a deluge of ten to twelve cases daily.

Ingesting contaminated water is seen to be causing the diarrhoeal issues, leading to impaired renal function in patients. Herein, the failure of patients to use boiled water has been a significant factor. Concurring with these views, Dr Faisal Javed, a general physician at Jinah Hospital Karachi, stresses that the ADV outbreak is not a novel virus.

There is a vaccine available to prevent the advancement of this disease. Influenza and corona vaccines can also serve as preventive measures. Furthermore, Dr Javed emphasizes that patients affected by diabetes and asthma should exercise particular caution as ADV is a viral infection liable to spread from person to person. Nevertheless, he iterates that this situation should not precipitate panic but rather promote cautionary behaviour such as maintaining social distance and wearing face masks.

This article was first published in The Express Tribune on the 20th of February, 2024.