The seasonal Influenza could pose a serious risk to the health of pregnant women and health workers in the absence of a vaccine, medical experts said.

The Agha Khan University in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean held an Influenza awareness seminar in Quetta on Wednesday.

During the seminar, the medical experts stressed the importance of the seasonal Influenza vaccine as they said that pregnant women and health workers are at greater risk compared with others.

They urged the authorities to take necessary measures to spread awareness about the flu while apprising the participants about the symptoms and precautions of influenza.

It is pertinent to mention that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) of the National Institute of Health (NIH) on November 2 issued an advisory on the prevention and control of seasonal Influenza.

In a statement, the NIH said that flu cases usually increase in Pakistan from December to February as temperature falls during the winter season.

The NIH said that the objective of this advisory is to alert and facilitate the health authorities and other stakeholders to ensure timely preventive and control measures.

These measures include preparedness to deal with the increased workload expected in the outpatient and in-patient departments during the next few months.

According to the advisory, seasonal influenza viruses may present with mild symptoms but may progress to severe illness, particularly in high-risk individuals.

Patients with chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, cardiac and lung diseases, pregnant women, elderly people, and children under five years are at higher risk of developing severe or complicated disease.