Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Viral Cocktail Drives Fever and Respiratory Illness Across Calcutta
Many people in Calcutta have been getting sick with different viruses at the same time.
These viruses include influenza, H1N1, Covid and common seasonal viruses.
People may have fever, breathing problems, weakness, a poor appetite or diarrhoea.
Some patients have needed hospital care, and a few with other health problems needed intensive care.
Doctors say warm, moist weather can help viruses spread.
H1N1 has been found in adults and children.
Some doctors said children may be catching it at school.
Covid infections have generally caused mild symptoms in the patients described.
One doctor said Covid vaccines should be available again in India.
Doctors in Calcutta report a rise in viral infections involving influenza, H1N1, Covid and seasonal viruses.
Common symptoms include fever, respiratory distress, extreme weakness, appetite loss and diarrhoea.
About 20% of tested samples from some viral-infection patients were positive for H1N1, according to a microbiologist.
At least 30% of children admitted to one hospital tested positive for H1N1, with school exposure cited as a possible source.
Doctors link the spread to humid, warm weather, while one expert called for Covid vaccines to be made available again in India.
- Who
- Hundreds of Calcuttans, including adults and children, have fallen ill; doctors and hospitals are treating patients with viral infections.
- What
- A mixture of influenza viruses, H1N1, Covid and seasonal viruses is causing fever and respiratory illnesses, with some patients requiring hospitalisation.
- When
- Over the past few weeks during the monsoon; doctors reported the situation on Monday.
- Where
- Calcutta, including hospitals such as Peerless Hospital, Desun Hospital, Narayana Health RN Tagore Hospital and the Institute of Child Health.
- Why
- Doctors say the warm, moisture-rich weather is conducive to viral activity and spread.
- Reported symptoms
- Fever, respiratory distress, extreme weakness, loss of appetite and diarrhoea.
- Viruses detected
- H1N1, other influenza strains, Covid and common seasonal viruses.
- H1N1 sample rate
- About 20% of samples from patients with viral infections tested positive for H1N1 at Narayana Health RN Tagore Hospital, according to Suman Saha.
- Children with H1N1
- At least 30% of children admitted to the Institute of Child Health, Calcutta, tested positive for H1N1.
- Higher-risk patients
- Some H1N1 patients requiring intensive care had comorbidities including heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Covid symptoms
- Patients testing positive for Covid generally had mild symptoms, according to Chandramouli Bhattacharya.
- Vaccine recommendation
- Chandramouli Bhattacharya said Covid vaccination should be made available again in India.