Lahore Hospitals Report 35,000 Flu-Like Cases in a Week

Lahore flu-like cases reached more than 35,000 across six major government hospitals over seven days, as worsening smog and seasonal viral infections spread across the city.

Mayo Hospital recorded the largest number, with more than 11,000 people seeking treatment for these symptoms. Services Hospital received over 9,800 patients, while Jinnah Hospital reported more than 1,000. Thousands of others visited Lahore General Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Children’s Hospital with similar complaints.

Hospital sources also said rapid tests had identified positive COVID-19 cases, adding to concern about the spread of respiratory infections. The figures cover patients with overlapping symptoms, not confirmed cases of a single illness.

What the 35,000 figure does and does not mean

The headline figure needs care. It counts people who arrived with symptoms linked to flu, COVID-19, influenza and smog-related irritation, not 35,000 confirmed cases of one disease. Doctors quoted in the reports stressed that point, because the three causes can look alike at first.

That distinction matters for readers. A patient with a sore throat, cough and fever may have seasonal flu, a COVID-19 variant, or irritation caused by polluted air. Only testing and a medical examination can separate those causes. The hospital totals show pressure on outpatient and emergency services, not a diagnosis for the whole city.

Professor Shahbaz Ghori, head of the Ear, Nose and Throat Department at Services Hospital, said different COVID-19 variants might cause less severe illness than earlier strains. He warned people not to dismiss their symptoms, and urged anyone with flu-like symptoms to consult a qualified doctor instead of diagnosing or treating themselves.

He also explained that COVID-19, seasonal influenza and smog can produce similar respiratory symptoms. For that reason, he stressed precautions and timely medical examinations, rather than guesswork at home.

Smog adds a second pressure on hospitals

The surge has arrived during a heavy smog spell in Lahore. Feature Pakistan reported on 2 November that Lahore’s overall air quality index stood at 253, with several areas above 419, in its coverage of Punjab’s smog measures. Polluted air irritates the airways, worsens asthma and chest congestion, and makes it harder for patients and doctors to tell a viral infection apart from a smog-related complaint.

Children, older people and patients with asthma or other chest conditions face the highest risk when smog thickens. Children’s Hospital is among the six hospitals in the seven-day count, which underlines how far the pressure reaches across age groups.

Residents have been advised to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity, wear masks when they go out, and maintain proper hygiene. Those steps reduce exposure to pollution and help limit the spread of infections, but they do not replace medical advice for a person who is already ill.

Punjab’s hospitals have faced similar seasonal pressure before, and the province has been adding emergency capacity in other ways. Feature Pakistan reported on 2 November that Punjab hospitals are receiving emergency panic buttons linked to the Safe City system, a separate step aimed at staff safety rather than treatment capacity.

Lahore flu-like cases: what patients should do

Doctors quoted in the reports gave simple advice. Do not ignore a fever, cough, cold, sore throat or body aches that lasts more than a day or two. Seek a qualified doctor, especially if breathing becomes difficult, a fever stays high, or the patient is a child, an older person, or someone with a chest condition.

Self-medication can hide a worsening infection and can delay the right treatment. Rapid testing, where available, can confirm COVID-19, but a negative rapid test does not rule out flu or another respiratory infection. A doctor can judge whether further tests or admission are needed.

For families, the practical steps are unchanged from earlier smog seasons. Keep windows closed on high-smog days where possible, limit outdoor exercise for children, wear a mask outdoors, wash hands often, and keep a distance from people who are coughing or sneezing.

Hospitals have not reported a new disease, and no authority has announced a new outbreak. The honest picture is a familiar seasonal mix, flu, COVID-19 variants and smog irritation, arriving together and pushing weekly patient numbers above 35,000 across six hospitals.

The surge comes as Lahore was recently ranked the world’s most polluted city, and as DRAP warned about fake flu vaccines circulating in Pakistan.

Frequently asked questions

How many patients visited Lahore hospitals in the week?

More than 35,000 patients with flu, COVID-19 and influenza-like symptoms visited six major government hospitals in Lahore over seven days.

Which hospital saw the most patients?

Mayo Hospital saw the most, with more than 11,000 patients. Services Hospital received over 9,800, and Jinnah Hospital reported more than 1,000.

Is this a new mystery disease?

No. The patients had flu, COVID-19 and influenza-like symptoms, plus smog-related irritation. The reports do not identify a single new disease.

Why do flu, COVID-19 and smog look alike?

All three can cause fever, cough, sore throat and breathing difficulty. Doctors say only medical examination and testing can separate the causes in an individual patient.

What should a patient with flu-like symptoms do?

Consult a qualified doctor instead of self-diagnosing, especially if breathing is difficult, fever stays high, or the patient is a child, an older person, or has a chest condition.