Kolkata Cough and Cold Epidemic: A Surge in Respiratory Illnesses



• A significant cough and cold outbreak has swept Kolkata, India, driven by fluctuating temperatures and a range of viruses including rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus, influenza viruses (including Influenza B, which had been absent since the monsoon season), and the triggering of bacterial infections like streptococcus pneumoniae and mycoplasma.

• The illnesses primarily affect the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems, with symptoms such as cough, fever, sore throat, and changes in voice; while most cases respond to common antibiotics, individuals with pre-existing conditions like asthma, COPD, or pneumonia are experiencing more severe complications, leading to hospitalizations and ICU admissions, particularly among the elderly.

• Doctors are urging caution, recommending testing for those who don't recover within a week, and highlighting the increased susceptibility of those aged 65 and above, and children under 12, to secondary bacterial infections requiring antibiotic treatment; the highly contagious nature of these seasonal viruses, spread through respiratory droplets, necessitates preventative measures.

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