New Delhi: A staggering 75% of households in Delhi-NCR reported one or more members suffering from viral illnesses such as flu, COVID-like symptoms, or fever as of October 28, 2026, according to a LocalCircles research report released on Thursday.
This marks a sharp increase from 56% on September 26 and even higher than 69% recorded on September 16, indicating a rapid spread of infections across the region.
“When comparing the results over the last one month, there has been a considerable increase in the number of households where one or more individuals are down with COVID/flu/viral fever-like symptoms,” the report noted.
Pollution and Weather Behind Surge
The surge in illnesses has been linked to changing weather conditions and a sharp deterioration in air quality. LocalCircles attributed the spike to falling night temperatures, post-Diwali pollution, and farm fires in neighbouring states that pushed Air Quality Index (AQI) levels to between 400 and 500 in most parts of Delhi-NCR.
The PM2.5 concentration, a key pollutant, touched nearly 350 µg/m³ — almost 10 times higher than the safe limit of 35 µg/m³.
Rising Viral Infections and Health Impact
Residents reported being affected by H3N2 influenza and other respiratory viral infections, with symptoms including high fever, sore throat, body aches, and persistent cough. Many respondents said recovery was taking over 10 days.
The report highlighted that children, senior citizens, and those with pre-existing health conditions have been hit hardest by the outbreak.
Additionally, high pollution levels since Diwali have caused three out of four households to experience breathing problems, burning eyes, sore throat, nasal congestion, and headaches.
Double Whammy of Pollution and Illness
“The survey underlines that poor air quality combined with spreading viral illnesses is having a double whammy effect on residents of Delhi NCR,” LocalCircles said.
The civic tech community platform urged authorities to address the root causes of toxic air and take immediate measures to curb viral transmission, including public awareness campaigns, encouraging mask usage, and limiting large indoor gatherings until infection rates stabilize.