Patients visiting government hospitals in Lahore are facing difficulties due to the unavailability of influenza test kits, forcing many to return without getting tested, 24NewsHD TV reported on Saturday.
At Mayo Hospital, patients arriving for testing have expressed frustration over the lack of kits.
Nasir Husain, a patient from Muridke, came to have an influenza test at Mayo Hospital's outdoor department, and expressed his disappointment for being denied the facility by the doctors.
The Medical Superintendent (MS) of Mayo Hospital said that without influenza kits, conducting tests is impossible.
Sources also reported a shortage of influenza test kits in the market, compounding the problem.
The shortage comes amid rising concerns over the spread of the “super flu” virus, which has been rapidly increasing globally.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that a new subtype of influenza A(H3N2), subclade K, has led to a sharp rise in influenza cases in the United Kingdom and several European countries.
In Pakistan, authorities have confirmed the presence of the superflu virus, with sources indicating that 20 percent of tested samples were positive for the new A(H3N2) subclade K strain.
Health experts are urging the public to remain cautious and follow preventive measures as the virus continues to spread.