Flu cases on the rise during monsoon

With the arrival of the monsoon, there has already been an increase in flu cases. Experts recommend annual flu vaccinations for everyone age 6 months and older.Emphasising the importance of flu vaccination, Somu Sivabalan,consultant paediatrician and pulmonologist, Dr Rela Institute andMedical Centre said, “Children are often affected by the flu virus, which is highly contagious and can be spread by close contact. Flu affects more than 40 per cent of pre-schoolers and more than 30 per cent of school-going children each year. Taking the flu shot once a year offers good protection for everyone in the familyand minimizes the risk of flu infection. Besides children, people withcomorbidities or immunocompromised conditions, as well as people above 65years of age, should also get the flu shot since flu complications can be severe.”