# Flu cases double at Karachi hospitals in a week: JPMC sees 70 to 80 a day, Civil Hospital 30 to 40

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/health/flu-cases-double-at-karachi-hospitals-in-a-week-jpmc-sees-70-to-80-a-day-civil)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 27 Oct 2026
Updated: 27 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 27 Oct 2026

> Doctors at the city's two biggest public hospitals say patients are sicker and slower to recover, and whole families are arriving together as nights turn cooler.

**Flu-like illness has doubled at Karachi's main public hospitals in about a week: Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) now sees 70 to 80 such patients a day, up from 30 to 40, and Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi sees 30 to 40 a day, up from 8 to 10**, senior doctors told [Dawn](https://www.dawn.com/news/2040103/flu-cases-double-at-karachi-hospitals-in-over-a-week-amid-seasonal-shift). The rise began 8 to 10 days ago as night temperatures started to fall.

## What doctors are seeing

| Hospital | Daily flu-like cases before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| JPMC | 30 to 40 | 70 to 80 |
| Civil Hospital Karachi | 8 to 10 | 30 to 40 |

Dr Irfan Siddiqui, head of JPMC's emergency department, said hospital numbers are only part of the picture because most people first go to a neighbourhood clinic. He said patients are arriving more seriously ill and taking longer to recover than usual. Most of his patients are aged 18 to 32, many of them daily-wage workers and heavy smokers.

Dr Imran Sarwar, head of emergency at Civil Hospital, said all age groups are affected, with people in their twenties the most common. Three to five members of one family are often arriving together, which makes him suspect the current virus spreads more easily. Treatment is for symptoms, and only a few complicated cases need admission.

## Who is most at risk

The elderly, young children and anyone with a weak immune system, the doctors said. The same seasonal rise has been reported in Quetta this week.

## What you can do

1. **Wash your hands often**, and avoid close contact with people who are ill.
2. **Stay home when you are sick**, so you do not pass it on at work or school.
3. **Drink fluids and sleep properly.**
4. **Get the flu vaccine.** An annual shot, ideally in early autumn, is the most effective protection, but in Pakistan it is sold only in the private sector and is costly.
5. **Go to hospital** if breathing becomes difficult, a fever will not come down, or an elderly person or small child gets worse.

If you need a hospital, our directory lists [hospitals in Karachi](/businesses/hospitals/karachi) with addresses and phone numbers. Parents in Punjab should also note the new winter school timings, which officials say are meant to keep children out of the early-morning cold.

## Frequently asked questions

**Is flu spreading in Karachi?**

Yes. In late October 2026 JPMC reported 70 to 80 flu-like cases a day, double the week before, and Civil Hospital Karachi 30 to 40 a day, up from 8 to 10.

**Where can I get a flu vaccine in Pakistan?**

Doctors quoted by Dawn say the seasonal flu vaccine is available only in private hospitals, clinics and pharmacies.

## Sources

- Flu cases double at Karachi hospitals in over a week amid seasonal shift (27 Oct 2026) (Dawn): https://www.dawn.com/news/2040103/flu-cases-double-at-karachi-hospitals-in-over-a-week-amid-seasonal-shift
- Seasonal illnesses surge across Quetta (The Express Tribune): https://tribune.com.pk/story/2637148/seasonal-illnesses-surge-across-quetta-3

How to cite: "Flu cases double at Karachi hospitals in a week: JPMC sees 70 to 80 a day, Civil Hospital 30 to 40", Searchable, 27 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/health/flu-cases-double-at-karachi-hospitals-in-a-week-jpmc-sees-70-to-80-a-day-civil