Telangana DPH issues flu advisory as temperatures drop

The DPH identified pregnant women, children under the age of five, people above 65 years and those with chronic diseases as vulnerable to flu.

Hyderabad: The Telangana Director of Public Health, B Ravinder Nayak, issued an advisory to prevent the flu on Thursday, November 12, as temperatures began to dip in the state.

The advisory came after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast dry weather across the state, with minimum temperatures likely to drop by 2-3 degrees Celsius below normal. According to the IMD, Hyderabad is expected to have partly cloudy skies, with maximum and minimum temperatures forecast at around 32 degrees Celsius and 16 degrees Celsius, respectively.

According to the advisory, flu is a contagious respiratory infection that spreads when infected people cough or sneeze.

Common symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and fatigue. Most people recover within a week with adequate rest and fluids.

The Directorate of Public Health (DPH) identified pregnant women, children under the age of five, people above 65 years and those with chronic diseases as vulnerable to flu.

People in Hyderabad have been advised to wear masks while stepping out, wash hands frequently with soap, avoid public places if they have a fever, ensure adequate ventilation with outdoor air and get sufficient sleep.

Nayak urged the public not to shake hands, not to reuse tissues and handkerchiefs, to avoid frequently touching the mouth and eyes, and to avoid taking medicine without consulting doctors.