Flu cases double at Karachi hospitals in just over a week

Flu cases at Karachi's big public hospitals have doubled in just over a week as the season shifts toward winter, Dawn reported on 27 October 2026.

At Civil Hospital Karachi, daily flu patients jumped from 8–10 to 30–40. At Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, the daily count rose from 30–40 to 70–80. Doctors say whole families are falling ill together — three to five members of the same family reporting at once — and many patients are taking longer than usual to recover.

Most patients at Jinnah Hospital are aged 18–32, many from the labour class, and a significant number are heavy smokers, according to the hospital's doctors. The elderly, children and people with weak immune systems are more vulnerable.

Nationally, the National Institute of Health's Week 38 bulletin counted 44,336 suspected influenza-like illness cases across Pakistan, with Sindh reporting 29,308. Punjab did not report, so the true national count is higher. “Influenza-like illness” means fever with cough or sore throat — it covers flu, but also colds and other viruses. It is not a count of confirmed influenza; only lab testing confirms flu.

Doctors are urging vaccination before the peak. Influenza could become more prevalent during November and December, particularly in cold and dry weather, and it takes about two weeks for immunity to develop after vaccination, paediatrician Dr Faiza Jahan told The Express Tribune on 19 October. The World Health Organization lists health workers, older adults, pregnant women and people with specific chronic medical conditions as priority groups for seasonal flu vaccination.

One problem in Pakistan: the flu vaccine is costly and available only at private healthcare settings, Dawn reported. Sindh has made influenza vaccination mandatory for Umrah pilgrims travelling through Karachi Airport. And buyers should be careful — customs officials have intercepted products sold as vaccines that turned out to contain distilled water or normal saline.

Antibiotics do not treat flu. Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, Dr Jahan said, and should only be used on a doctor's advice if symptoms persist for five to seven days. Children need medical assessment if they stop eating or feeding, or develop rapid breathing.

Verification note (29 October 2026): the figures above are those reported by Dawn on 27 October. Hospital counts move daily; newer 28 October reports of Civil Hospital Karachi's daily count differ between outlets, so no single newer verified figure replaced them. No vaccine price is quoted (no verified source gives one) and no flu strain is claimed for Pakistan this season.

General information only, not medical advice.