Experts warn of spread of disease as Gujarat registers highest deaths in June-September.
Though the festival season of Navratri brings with it huge business opportunities, health sometimes takes a beating. Swine flu, an air-borne disease, may rise as it will again be on the prowl during garba.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune --WHO's reference laboratory for Asia region -- has recently issued a warning that the second wave of swine flu has already hit India and that H1N1 was the most predominant strain in India during June to September this year.
The data released by the government health department reveals that maximum number of deaths due to swine flu was registered in Gujarat amongst the northern states of the country and the highest deaths in the country have been registered in Maharashtra.
With Navratri celebrations round the corner, health experts in the city have cautioned that since the cases of swine flu are on rise, it is extremely vital to raise public awareness about the infectiousness and the rapid spread of swine flu that can occur during mass gatherings.
The report says that the total number of swine flu cases in India since May 2009 to September 2010 is 44,350 of which 2520 are confirmed deaths. From this, the total number of cases registered in Gujarat are 2225 and 457 deaths have occurred till date in the state, which is the highest among the northern states. In Delhi, the total registered cases are 11,126 - quite higher in comparison with that of the state.
However, there have been 144 cases of death which is significantly lower than that of Gujarat.
During June to September there were 967 cases registered in Gujarat and the deaths due to swine flu during the corresponding phase have been 151 - which, again, is the highest number amongst the northern states.
Dr. Prasad Kulkarni, a health expert who has been working on swine flu vaccinations, said, "The swine flu cases, which had declined to about 60 during a week in April-May have upped again since July. From July to September, the average cases have risen to 1000-1200 cases in a week. The numbers are suspected to increase rapidly during winter. Also, a rapid spread of virus might occur during the mass gatherings in Navratri.”
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