By Local Circles,News18,Pragati Ratti

Copyright news18

Viral infections are on the rise across Delhi NCR, with a new LocalCircles survey revealing that nearly seven in ten households currently have one or more members suffering from Covid-like or flu symptoms. The survey highlights a sharp escalation compared to March this year, when 54 per cent of households had reported similar illnesses.
The survey, which received over 11,000 responses from residents in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad, shows that the problem is widespread and impacting large families in particular. Of the 11,152 respondents, 37 per cent said that four or more members of their household are presently unwell with viral fever, flu, or Covid-like symptoms such as high-grade fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, persistent body aches, headache, stomach issues, or respiratory distress. Another 13 per cent reported that 2–3 members in their home were sick, while 19 per cent said only one individual was affected. Just 25 per cent of respondents said no one in their family was currently ill.
In total, 69 per cent of households surveyed reported at least one family member down with flu or viral fever, marking a significant 15 per cent jump from the 54 per cent recorded in March 2025. The findings suggest that the seasonal change, compounded by waterlogging and poor water quality in parts of the region, has aggravated the spread of infections.
Doctors across Delhi NCR have pointed to the H3N2 influenza A virus as the dominant strain this season, with many patients experiencing prolonged fevers lasting up to 10 days and, in some cases, requiring hospitalisation. Hospitals are also reporting an uptick in admissions due to respiratory complications, pneumonia, and bronchitis, particularly among children, the elderly, and those with comorbidities like asthma, hypertension, and diabetes.
Medical experts have urged citizens to exercise caution, practice good hygiene, and avoid self-medicating with antibiotics. The LocalCircles report concludes that the steep rise in affected households underscores the need for authorities to investigate the causes behind the worsening outbreak and to step up preventive measures before the situation escalates further.
LocalCircles is a community social media platform that enables citizens and small businesses to escalate issues for policy and enforcement interventions and enables the government to make policies that are citizen- and small business-centric.