After lungs, H1N1 now affects brain

Moving ahead from its propensity to cause pneumonia or severe respiratory problems, the H1N1 virus has now started affecting the brain and body parts beyond the lungs. Experts, however, have not noticed any significant mutation in the virus suggesting that the current set of medicines are apt to tackle it.

“The virus has mutated, but there have been no changes in the antigenicity of the virus. Thus, Tamiflu and the available vaccines are sufficient to tackle it,” said Dr Sanjay Oak, dean, KEM Hospital.
“We have observed that fever is not a symptom in all H1N1 cases now. The virus now has neurological manifestations and we are studying these changes.”

The findings were discussed on Wednesday in a technical committee meeting which was attended by Dr DS Dakhure, state director, directorate of health services (DHS); Dr Pravin Shingare, joint director, directorate of medical education and research (DMER); Dr AC Mishra, director, national institute of virology (NIV); Dr D Kadam from Sassoon Hospital, Pune; and Dr Oak.

The experts discussed whether there was a need to vaccinate all pregnant women and children, who are more prone to the virus. In the last three death audits conducted by experts, they observed that 75% patients who died had diabetes, hypertension, HIV infection or were pregnant. In the remaining 25%, majority had come late to the hospital due to which they were put on Tamiflu only after the third day of illness. “We need to observe the trend and be alert,” said Oak.

The expert committee is also mulling over making the H1N1 vaccine mandatory for all doctors are paramedics, who work in close proximity of the patients. “We plan to urge them to take the vaccine or give an undertaking stating that the hospitals won’t be responsible in case of an infection,” said a senior officer, who attended the meeting.