With the advent of winter, risks of seasonal ailments are rising with children, middle aged and elderly people becoming ill.

Additional DG of the health department, professor A H M Enayet Hossain, says: “the government has sufficient preparation to face winter time diseases.”

Director of the Shahid Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dr. Uttam Kumar Barua, told Bangla Tribune: “during winter, most people suffer due to respiratory illnesses; in addition, other ailments include dry skin, allergy, diarrhea and rotavirus.”

The Rate of strokes also rises, he added.

Director of Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Brian Bankim Halder, told Bangla Tribune: “during winter, we see the prevalence of cold, flue, pneumonia and asthma.”

Additional DG of the health department, professor A H M Enayet Hossain, said: “we are prepared but have not heard the rise of illnesses from any region as yet.”

Our surveillance bodies are alert with special teams active in the hill regions, he added.

Resident doctor of the National Chest Disease Hospital, Sadia Sultana Reshma, told Bangla Tribune: “we are now getting patients with respiratory illnesses, outpatients are not given any medicine though there’s vaccine for admitted patients.”

Honourary medical officer of DMCH skin and sexual diseases, Dr. Azmery Binte Islam, told Bangla Tribune: “we recommend the usage of moisturiser in winter; after taking bath, olive oil or body lotion can be used.”

People should also drink water; many think the soft winter sun will not harm, she said and added: “during this time, sun protector must be used along with lip balms.”

Using masks as a protection from dust is recommended.

Influenza and pneumonia vaccines have to be taken after one and three or five years respectively, she added.