Too many people have been calling in sick as Hyderabad is seeing a wave of employees down with fever, chills, headache and sore throat.
Hyderabad:Too many people have been calling in sick as Hyderabad is seeing a wave of employees down with fever, chills, headache and sore throat. “At least six of the 14 people in my team have been out for more than two days. I myself have been sick since last Thursday with a cold and fever. It hasn’t been this bad in years,” noted Joy Saha, a corporate employee who is still recovering. While the doctors describe this as seasonal and flu-like, nothing alarming, the coincidence of a global Covid variant resurfacing has brought a renewed sense of caution.
“This is likely a flu-like viral fever and contagious,” said Dr T. Usha Rani, a paediatrician with over three decades of practice. “If you are sick, isolate, wear a mask, but don’t panic. There is no need to get tested for common cold symptoms or waste money on it. We have good immunity. Just take basic precautions,” she explained.
Infections generally see an uptick when the weather turns, said Dr Ranga Reddy Burri, president of the Infection Control Academy of India. “It is not a pure summer anymore. Untimely rains are causing fluctuations, and during such transitional spells, you will always see a small spike in viral illnesses. I wouldn’t call it alarming.”
On the JN.1 Covid variant doing the rounds globally, Dr Burri clarified that India has not yet seen its arrival. “As of now, JN.1 is largely confined to Singapore and Hong Kong, where the numbers are unusually high compared to last year. It is known to be highly transmissible and more virulent than earlier strains, so India must stay alert if it enters.”
Across India, health authorities are on alert and keeping an eye on the JN.1 Covid variant that has caused surges in parts of Asia. Infections in Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand are on the rise, though India has officially reported just 257 cases so far. Kerala reported the highest at 69, followed by Maharashtra at 44 and Tamil Nadu at 34. The ministry of health and family welfare’s dashboard also recorded one Covid-related death in Kerala after May 12.
In Telangana, the government has not officially recorded any cases. But Dr Suneetha Narreddy, an infectious disease specialist, said she has encountered a few sporadic Covid cases over the past couple of months. “The infections have been mild for the most part. I have seen only one or two severe ones. But what I am seeing more right now is typhoid. I would recommend getting vaccinated and avoiding contaminated food. So far as the common viral is concerned, it will likely increase after the rains begin. Whether it's Covid or something else, the standard precautions apply: mask up, avoid crowded places and eat healthy. And most of all, keep your mind healthy too.”
The JN.1 variant is a descendant of Omicron BA.2.86. First identified in August 2023, it carries over 30 mutations, allowing it to evade immunity and transmit more easily. Though the variant has not been officially confirmed in India, it continues to be watched closely. In countries like Singapore and Hong Kong, sub-lineages like LF.7 and NB.1.8, which stem from JN.1, have been the main drivers of the recent rise in cases. Although symptoms are reportedly mild, experts have advised extra caution for elderly people and those with chronic conditions, especially when going into crowds. The illness remains airborne, so standard respiratory precautions continue to apply.
