Dengue, influenza in circulation; Chennai hospitals see steady rise in fever cases

Dengue and influenza viruses are currently in circulation, with a number of hospitals in the city reporting a steady flow of patients with fever, though doctors say the numbers remain in line with the seasonal trend.

“Currently, both flu and dengue viruses are in circulation. Flu spreads from person to person, while dengue is a vector-borne infection. We need to deal with both the infections carefully. If a person has fever, they should look out for respiratory symptoms such as cold, cough, and throat pain. These are the primary symptoms of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI). If there is a high-grade fever with no respiratory symptoms but body pain and headache, it is a sign of dengue,” a senior government doctor said.