Khaberni - The Iranian Ministry of Health announced on Sunday that rates of respiratory infections and influenza have seen a noticeable rise in the past weeks in most provinces, anticipating this upward trend to continue over the next two months.
According to an official statement, data from the epidemiological surveillance system shows an increase in the percentage of positive influenza cases since the second week of this month, with the highest infection rates recorded among children and adolescents.
The head of the Communicable Disease Department at the Ministry of Health explained that the country "may face about two months of health disruption with the spread of the virus," urging citizens to adhere to prevention rules, good ventilation, and avoid crowded places.
Concurrently, the Tehran Air Quality Control Company announced that the average air quality index in the capital was 142, classifying it as "unhealthy for sensitive groups," while the indicators at 20 measurement stations exceeded the "red" limits. Fatah square and Municipality stations recorded the highest pollution levels with a reading of 180.
With the expansion of pollution, the Meteorological Organization issued "orange" warnings for several major cities including Isfahan, Tabriz, Kermanshah, Ahvaz, and Mashhad.
Extension of School Closures
As a result, authorities in Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, Isfahan, Karaj, and others decided to switch to a non-attendance educational system for elementary schools, kindergartens, and preparatory stages on Tuesday and Wednesday, allowing remote work for working mothers who have children in these age groups.
Tomorrow, Monday, is a holiday in Iran according to the official calendar in memory of the death of Lady Fatima al-Zahra, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), while several Iranian provinces including Tehran have closed schools on Sunday due to air pollution.
Plan for Vehicles and Hospitals on Alert
The traffic police also announced the enforcement of a plan to restrict the movement of polluting vehicles, while the municipality stopped all construction activities that cause dust or increase pollutants until further notice.
Hospitals and emergency departments in the capital are on alert following increased cases of respiratory distress among the elderly and vulnerable groups.
Air pollution is one of the leading causes of death in Iran, causing the annual death of 59,000 individuals, and the crisis typically worsens in late fall and throughout the winter months, putting vulnerable groups—such as the elderly, children, and those with heart and respiratory diseases—in a sensitive health situation.
