60 per cent new cases reported among children.
Given the rate at which cases of H1N1 are increasing in Delhi and surrounding areas, epidemiologists fear that in three months every second person in the city will be infected with the swine flu virus.
On Wednesday, 116 laboratory confirmed cases were detected, taking the cumulative lab confirmed numbers in Delhi to 5,793.
The number of cases in India is 20,590, with 655 deaths.
Four deaths were reported on Wednesday, one each from Delhi and Rajasthan and two from Maharashtra. The highest number of deaths is among 20 to 39-year-olds.
Of the total cases, 77% cases were reported from 15 cities, among which Delhi, with 24% cases, had the highest number of infections.
The other cities were Pune (10%), Bangalore (8%), Chennai (7%), Mumbai (7%), Gurgaon (4%), Jaipur (3%), Trivandrum (2%), Lucknow (2%), Nashik, Latur, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Cochin and Ahmedabad (all 1% each).
Health ministry officials said these were only laboratory confirmed cases and the actual number could be three times higher as many patients were treated in hospitals without swab tests. “These patients showed all symptoms of swine flu and were put on medication to prevent complications. About 95% people carrying the infection show no symptoms. In fact, they have even resisted infection and have developed anti-bodies to fight the virus,” said Dr VM Katoch, chief of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).
“There is also a difference in clinical features among swine flu patients as many persons carrying the virus do not have fever, which is why many cases go unnoticed,” Katoch said.
Among the febrile group, about 86% positive cases reported with fever and cold-like features but without cough, while among those without fever (afebrile), 96% reported with cold and a sore throat.
Sixty per cent new cases were reported among children, forcing many parents to keep their kids indoor. Classes at Amity International School and Delhi Public School were suspended for a week after some students tested positive.
The swine flu bug is also forcing temporary closure of offices.
The government plans to procure four million doses of the swine flu vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Novartis and Sanofi Aventis.
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