Influenza is transmitted by large respiratory droplets and therefore the public needs to follow health guidelines strictly.

The curtain call for 2021 has begun, but as a New Year dawns amidst a pandemic, people are eagerly awaiting normalcy. As health restrictions have been relaxed and people are getting back to their normal lives, they shouldn’t forget that COVID Variants of Concern such as Omicron are hovering around. Therefore it is the duty of the people to adhere to health regulations and ensure that they do their best to minimise the spread of this deadly virus. However, apart from COVID, patients with other health conditions had limited access to healthcare services during the lockdown period. Medics therefore advise all patients and people to be cautious about themselves while welcoming a brand New Year. 

Adhere to health guidelines to avoid influenza 
More public gatherings and the reopening of schools and universities is now in the pipeline. As such, virologists advice the public to adhere to health guidelines to avoid testing positive for influenza.

“Out of around 100 samples tested for influenza in December, 19 of them were positive,” opined Consultant Virologist Dr. Jude Jayamaha. “Apart from influenza AH3 cases we also detected one case of influenza B. This surge is coming after 18 months. Usually there’s a peak from December to February. There are low temperatures in the morning hours and this is the shopping season as well. Influenza is transmitted by large respiratory droplets and therefore the public needs to follow health guidelines strictly.

“Influenza is symptomatic and when we test pregnant mothers, patients with cormobid conditions, the elderly for COVID we also test them for influenza. We need to continue surveillance like in the case of polio, measles and rubella even though such cases are not being detected,” he added. 

Dr. Jayamaha further said that the symptoms for COVID and dengue and COVID and influenza are similar apart from the loss of smell and taste. 

Late presentations in cancer patients 
The series of lockdowns kept people from moving around and getting their monthly medical checkups done. This has had a considerable impact on patients with terminal illnesses, including cancer. 

“A large number of patients are now showing up at clinics and there are late presentations due to the lack of access to clinical services over the last one and a half years,” opined Consultant Oncologist Dr. Wasantha Ratnayake. “Therefore some patients with early stage cancer now have late stage cancer. More than an increase the number of patients who couldn’t visit clinics are now showing up,” said Dr. Ratnayake.

He further advised patients to visit a local clinic if they detect lumps, bumps, anemia, unknown fever, patches or other suspicious symptoms. “Cancer patients too should get vaccinated according to the guidelines but if they’re undergoing chemotherapy, they should wait for seven days before getting the booster dose,” he added. 

Youth adviced to get the booster jab
Two months ago, many children tested positive for COVID and were admitted to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital. “But now, the numbers have gone down and only around 10 children who have tested positive for COVID are now at LRH,” opined Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Deepal Perera.

When asked about administering booster doses for children, Dr. Perera said that already countries such as UK, USA and Dubai have started giving booster doses to children and that they are even discussing about a fourth dose. “What happens is that antibody levels go down in three to four months. So ideally, boosters should be given at regular periods such as for tetanus, toxoid, polio which are given at five years and 12 years. But if you get a disease like chicken pox you will have long lasting antibody levels.” said Dr. Perera. 

He further said that the youth population should start getting the booster dose or the two doses of a COVID vaccine at the least to build immunity against the virus. 

Reach towards your goals one at a time
The pandemic indeed taught the uncertainty of life. But it didn’t help many as people suffered from anxiety attacks and depression. “Cases of post-COVID depression and anxiety are quite common now,”opined Dr. Ramani Ratnaweera Consultant Psychiatrist at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. “Due to COVID people had fear of death and they suffered from different phobias. They didn’t have access to scientific research or were not keen to read them. People were misinformed and this took a toll on their mental health.

“Those who testes positive for the virus were cornered from society and this was seen even among family members and loved ones as well. Even if PCR tests were negative and CT levels were below 30, which meant that the viral load was less and the person is not infectious, they were still cornered and stigmatized,” she added. 

Dr. Ratnaweera further said that people unnecessarily blamed their own family members in the event of a death of a loved one. “This was an added burden to people. On the other hand people suffered from panic attacks, six months after they were diagnosed with COVID. Some claimed that they couldn’t work like before, some were inactive. The problem is that people don’t search for evidence-based information. With that they become more anxious,” she said. 

Dr. Ratnaweera said that as a new year dawns people shouldn’t try to fulfill everything they couldn’t accomplish over the past one and a half years in 2022. “Our lifestyles have been laid back. We had time for ourselves during the lockdown periods. We learned to live without wasting resources. Improve your patience during the New Year, listen to health authorities, adhere to health regulations, relax, give some space for mental and physical health and reach towards your goals one at a time,” said Dr. Ratnaweera. 

The Daily Mirror Health Capsule wishes you a healthy and prosperous 2022!