Doctors attributed the spike to the prevailing rainy and cloudy weather, which facilitates viral transmission
He added that while some Covid-19 and dengue patients are in the ICU, H1N1 remains the dominant threat. they exploded in the monsoon months While cases were negligible in the first quarter of 2026. Altogether, 225 cases have been recorded in August so far, compared with 35 in July, taking the 2026 total to 290 cases. Dr Kapil Zirpe, pulmonologist and head of the neurotrauma unit at Ruby Hall Clinic, said, “This year, the surge feels like 2009 and 2011.
Dr Zirpe said the younger populations are particularly at risk of spreading the virus due to increased socialisation and a lack of precautions, such as masking. Immunocompromised individuals and the elderly remain the most vulnerable to severe outcomes due to underlying comorbidities. Dr Ameet Dravid, an infectious diseases specialist at Noble and Poona Hospitals, reported a marked increase in lower respiratory tract infections. Officials cautioned that the August figure is preliminary and likely to rise as data is updated. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in Pune Stay updated with the latest Pune news.
With hospitals reporting waitlists for beds, medical experts said the current season was proving more severe than the previous year. Dr Sagar Lad, a neonatologist and paediatric intensivist at Jehangir and Sahyadri Hospitals, said, “Most children in the ICU are suffering from complications related to dengue and influenza, specifically the H3N2 strain. Both ICUs and general wards are full, and we currently have patients on the waitlist,” he said. “While weather doesn’t increase the viral load itself, high humidity, limited sunlight, and people spending more time in close proximity indoors create the perfect environment for respiratory viruses to spread,” he said. a significant portion is progressing to breathlessness and pneumonia,” Dr Dravid said While most patients in outpatient departments present with typical upper respiratory symptoms like cough and cold. Doctors said these figures are a “vast underestimate,” as many patients with flu-like symptoms are treated without being officially tested for H1N1 or COVID-19. Dr Vijay Natarajan, medical superintendent at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, said the facility has been operating beyond capacity for over a month. However, with a growing population and no proportionate increase in healthcare beds, the shortage is felt much more acutely now,” Dr Natarajan said. “Many dismiss it as a common cold until it becomes severe,” he warned. Doctors said complications typically arise as the infection progresses. Dr Deepali Ambike, head of paediatrics at YCM Hospital, said their paediatric ICU is also full. It is difficult to distinguish between Covid and H1N1 without routine testing, but the clinical reality is that the post-monsoon surge has hit us very hard,” she said.
Pune :Intensive care units (ICUs) across the city have reached full capacity as both paediatric and adult facilities struggle to accommodate a surge in severe influenza infections and dengue complications. Dr Lad attributed the spike to the prevailing rainy and cloudy weather, which facilitates viral transmission. The pressure is equally high in adult wards, where H1N1 ( swine flu ) has emerged as the leading cause of severe respiratory distress. “The majority of severe cases requiring ICU care are linked to H1N1, the pandemic strain. Data from the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Metropolitan Surveillance Unit confirms a marked rise in H1N1 infections. The surge has forced smaller nursing homes to take the overflow as major hospitals turn patients away. “This is an annual cycle where respiratory and mosquito-borne diseases peak between June and Oct. The severity of the current wave has drawn comparisons to previous outbreaks. We are seeing patients on ventilators and oxygen support in very serious condition. the risk multiplies as the overall infection rate in the city grows While a baseline percentage of the population inevitably develops severe symptoms. “Children who deteriorate are developing pneumonia and requiring ventilatory support. Download the TOI App.