DOHA: As temperatures go down, there is a surge in seasonal flu cases. Workers are taking time off and clinics are crowded with people suffering from influenza-like symptoms while teachers are reporting students absent from school.
“For those among us unlucky enough to be vulnerable to such things, the change of season can mean sickness is inevitable,” said Awadh Omar, a Sudanese resident.
“I took two days off when I was down with flu and at least half of my colleagues at office have also missed a day or two of work with similar problems.”
Health experts say that a rise or fall in temperature can affect our immune systems. With cold and windy weather set to continue across the region, people are being urged to be more vigilant to help halt the spread of the winter virus.
“There has been a rise in the number of flu cases especially among children,” said one doctor at a private clinic.
He said there were more cases of flu and influenza during winter months because the heat, which is a natural protector against flu and kills most viruses, has gone away. Secondly, the air is dryer and this thins the lining of the nose and mouth making people more prone to illnesses.
He recommended that anyone who had flu should rest at home and avoid going to work. “Covering the mouth when you cough or sneeze and regular hand washing are important hygiene tools to minimise the risk of spreading infections.”
Young children and those over 65 and pregnant women should protect themselves by getting vaccinated, have a good sleep, take flu remedies such as honey and drinking plenty of fluids, he said. For those down with flu, he recommended a Vitamin C-rich diet, plenty of fluids and paracetamol.
Schools were also feeling the effects of winter virus. Yousef Musoke, a parent, said his two of his children had missed school at least twice in the last two weeks.
“There school has sent newsletters advising parents on how to protect their children. The letters mention that parents should keep their children warm,” he said.
People living in the city said they were sometimes unprepared for the cooler weather and many did not expect the change in temperatures to be so substantial.
An Egyptian expatriate, Salah Ahmed, believed that people were fooled into thinking that because they lived in a hot climate they would not get flu. “I usually get sick two or three times a year. Right now, for example, I feel I am developing flu-type symptoms. There is always at least one person who calls in sick every two days at my work.”
The weather in Qatar was predicted to be cloudy with scattered rain and thundery at some places offshore, according to the Department of Meteorology.
The Peninsula
