Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: With a drop in temperatures in the winter, an upsurge in influenza and flu cases in Pakistan balloons usually during December and February. This makes influenza unpredictable with varying extent of spread, severity, timing, and length of the season. The flu virus changes with a new variant emerging almost every year.
Influenza precautions and care
· Flu can be prevented by frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water.
· Using hand sanitizer when away from the facility of hand washing.
· Covering nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, sick patients to take rest.
· Avoid crowds and take social distancing measures.
Today’s weather
On the other hand, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (MET) has forecast dry and cold weather in most parts of the country during the next 24 hours.
Foggy condition
The Met Office has predicted that foggy conditions will likely develop over plain upper Sindh and Punjab areas during morning and night hours. Frost is expected to occur at isolated places during morning hours in the Pothohar region.
As per the synoptic situation, continental air prevails over most parts of the country.
Air quality in different cities in Pakistan
The air quality in Lahore is 286 US AQI; in Bahawalpur, it is 159, 186 in Muridke, 163 in Rawalpindi, and 166 in Sialkot. In Sindh, the air quality in Karachi is 193 US AQI, while Islamabad’s air quality stands at 140. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, air quality is 205 in Peshawar and 104 in Abbottabad.
Recorded temperatures
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (Met), a maximum of 5 degrees Celsius (°C) temperature was recorded in Islamabad, 10°C in Lahore, 13°C in Karachi, 6°C in Peshawar, and 9.5°C in Quetta.
Minimum recorded temperatures
Today’s Recorded Lowest Minimum Temperatures (°C): Leh -11, Kalam, Kalat, Gilgit, Hunza -04, Skardu -09, Ziarat, Astore, Gupis -05, and Quetta -03.
