Several states in the country have been put on alert due to the growing number of swine flu cases across India. 1,694 cases and 49 swine flu deaths have been reported in just one fortnight i.e. from 1 to 13 January, according to data released by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
It mentioned that Rajasthan alone has reported 31 deaths in this duration with other cases being reported from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.
The health department in Rajasthan has reported that the number of cases in the entire state has gone above 1,000 with over 200 deaths in the last 13 months however the Union Health Ministry told people that they must not panic and that the situation is being closely monitored.
Swine flu or H1N1 influenza is a highly infectious acute respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus, which frequently causes outbreaks of flu in pigs. Normally swine flu viruses do not infect human beings. But, sporadic human infections with H1N1 have occurred. Generally, these cases take place in people with direct contact to pigs (for example children near pigs at farm or workers in the swine industry). Nevertheless, there have been cases of human-to-human spread of this virus.
A senior Union Health Ministry officer said, “All State governments have been urged to create awareness about swine flu – its spread, testing and also its prevention. And we have also asked them to make sure that there are sufficient beds as well as medicines to treat any cases that are being reported”.
The official further told that the health department in Rajasthan confirmed that 1036 people had tested positive in between 1st to 17th January 2019, with 9 deaths reported in just one week from 13-17 January. On 17th January 2019, 65 people tested positive for swine flu.
The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry’s IDSP told 14,992 people came in contact with swine flu in 2018 while 1,103 lost their lives. And in 2017, 38,811 people tested positive with 2,270 fatalities.
Dr. D.S. Chaddha of Fortis Hospital said, “Children younger than 5 years old and adults either 65 years or above, patients with chronic pulmonary condition, pregnant women, neurological, neuromuscular or metabolic disorders and obese adults are in the high risk group”.
