National Capital reports first swine flu death of 2018

The national Capital witnessed its first swine flu death this year between February 4 and 11, revealed the latest Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), a report by the Ministry of Health. This year, a total of 19 cases have been reported in Delhi till February 11, after no cases were reported in the last quarter of 2017.

The report also reveals 2,835 cases and 12 deaths due to H1N1 fever in 2017 in Delhi as compared to 193 cases and seven deaths in 2016. New cases started to appear in January when six cases were reported in the first week itself.

The increased cases have led to new isolation wards being made at several hospitals in Delhi, whereas some hospitals are still using their swine flu wards as dengue/chikungunya wards.

"We are prepared for the worse. All medicines, IVs are in stock and isolation wards and ICUs are available too," said Dr V K Tiwari, Medical Superintendent, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

The surge in cases had led to the Delhi government issue a health advisory in January for the prevention of influenza H1N1 virus, commonly known as Swine Flu. According to the advisory, the symptoms of H1N1 are -- fever and cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and difficulty in breathing. The other symptoms may include body ache, headache, fatigue, chills, diarrhea and vomiting, and blood-stained sputum.

"It is very important to cover nose and mouth with disposable tissue or handkerchief while coughing and sneezing. Do not shake hands with people suffering from any kind of flu or even if you have to, use hand sanitizers," says Dr S P Byotra, Head of Department of Internal Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Swine flu continues to take lives in the country as 103 deaths have been reported in 2018 and 1,022 cases were reported. Initially recorded in 2009 in Mexico, the disease was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2010. India had already witnessed 42,592 cases and 3,000 deaths by the end of 2010, as recorded. The death toll has gone up to 8,000 now.

"Most of those who succumbed are children, elderly, pregnant women or people with chronic lung disease. I strongly recommend that at least the vulnerable population, especially the healthcare workers, must take these vaccines to prevent the infection from spreading further," said Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research.

Earlier, the virus attacked mostly in winters. The WHO has been modifying vaccines separately for Northern and Southern Hemisphere. But in India, due to its position along the equator and after the recent mutations, both types of vaccines are made available at different times.