With the rising number of infectious diseases such as influenza, viral fever, H1N1, and leptospirosis in Ernakulam district of Kerala, hospitals are struggling to cope with the increasing patient load (file image)
With the rising number of infectious diseases such as influenza, viral fever, H1N1, and leptospirosis in Ernakulam district of Kerala, hospitals are struggling to cope with the increasing patient load. All major hospitals in Kochi city, including private and government hospitals, have been running at full capacity for the past several weeks and are reporting a surge in inpatient admissions for fever and influenza cases.
Anoop Joseph, superintendent of the Government Medical College, Ernakulam, says that a spike in the number of patients being admitted for influenza and viral fever has been observed.
“There is no denying that there has been an influx of patients, but this is as per our expectation. The months of June and July generally witness a spike in these cases, and we are avoiding any floor cases (accommodating/treating patients on the hospital floor) and ensuring beds for all,” said Dr. Joseph.
The superintendent added that they have not had to start a fever ward yet, indicating that despite the surge in diseases, the situation has been manageable. Dr. Joseph, however, added that, as opposed to earlier years, the severity of the disease has increased this time.
“Patients are getting severely affected and taking a longer time to recover. This could be because of a change in the virus variant,” he added.
Several patients who fell sick after contracting influenza or viral fever complain that they are struggling to get rooms in hospitals due to high occupancy.
Meera Suresh, a native of Kakkanad, Ernakulam, who sought treatment at a private hospital along with her family after contracting influenza, said she had to get discharged at her own risk after they could not get a private room. Devaki Bhaagi, an actor, said she had to wait past midnight in the hospital casualty, hoping they would get a private room for better treatment for her daughter, who was down with viral fever.
“We eventually had to leave for home. We reached out to multiple hospitals, but none had any availability. We eventually got a room the next day, late at night,” said Ms. Bhaagi.
Spokespersons at private hospitals opine that the season has seen a spike in influenza and fever cases and that, with more people opting for private rooms instead of wards, hospitals are struggling to accommodate everyone.
A spokesperson for a private hospital on the outskirts of the city said that the majority of patients being admitted to the hospital were infected with influenza and viral fever.
“We are running at full capacity, and most people want to get admitted to private rooms, which creates a strain. Since we have regular surgeries as well as accident and trauma cases, we have been running at full capacity for some time now,” said the spokesperson.
The same sentiment was echoed by a spokesperson for a premium hospital in the city, who said that the hospital has been seeing several referrals and high-risk cases of fever and influenza.
“All our beds are occupied, and we are trying to accommodate as many referrals as we can,” the spokesperson added.
Curbing spread of disease
According to the medical fraternity, proper cough etiquette and personal hygiene measures need to be followed to avoid the spread of diseases and the subsequent patient load in hospitals during the monsoon months.
Dr. G. Sathyajith Nair, paediatrician and secretary of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), Cochin Branch, said that this is the peak influenza season and that cough etiquette and personal hygiene need to be followed.
“Avoid going to crowded places without masks and stay home if you are sick to prevent the spread of the infection,” said Dr. Nair.
Published – August 04, 2026 10:04 am IST