Patna: As colder weather settles in, Bihar is seeing a rapid rise in viral flu cases across both urban and rural areas. Outpatient departments at Sadar Hospital, subdivisional referral hospitals and private clinics have recorded a 20–25% increase in patients suffering from high fever, cold and persistent cough.
Doctors say this season’s flu appears to follow a distinctive pattern: while the fever subsides within a few days, the cough often lingers for five to seven days, affecting recovery and raising concerns about complications.
Medical specialists have stressed the need to determine whether the surge is linked to the H1N2 subtype of Influenza A, a strain known for causing prolonged respiratory symptoms. They urged timely diagnosis and monitoring to understand the nature and spread of the infection.
Hospitals have advised people with persistent cough, high fever or breathing discomfort to seek medical care promptly, especially children, the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.
