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Swine flu’s back, claims 1st victim

With six swine flu cases in Pune and one death reported in Nashik, Mumbai has so far not detected a single H1N1 case.

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With six swine flu cases in Pune and one death reported in Nashik, Mumbai has so far not detected a single H1N1 case. However, experts are anticipating an outbreak with the steady rainfall in the city and have asked people to be cautious. The Haffkine Institute has started screening severe acute respiratory illnesses in all outpatient departments (OPDs) of city hospitals and studying virus strains to prevent epidemics in the city.

Dr Abhay Chowdhary, director, Haffkine Institute, said, “With the onset of the monsoon, the weather will be cooler and we are expecting a rise in the number of swine flu cases in July. So far, in 2011, we received 48 samples, all of which were negative. Last year, more people fell prey to influenza B.”

According to experts, most people have developed a natural immunity due to extended exposure to swine flu, while some have vaccine-induced immunity. “Influenza H1N1 is undoubtedly the most predominant virus in the air now and it will continue to be so for some time. But we will have to see how it is this season,” said Dr Chowdhary.

A senior infectious diseases expert said, “Clinical features of virus types are undergoing tremendous change. Even influenza B can have crippling effects, but it still remains milder than the other influenza types. But people should not ignore the symptoms and see a doctor.”

Meanwhile the Haffkine Institute has begun screening hospitals for Febrile Acute Respiratory Illness (FARI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI). “FARI and SARI cases peak during the monsoon. We have been collecting samples from the outdoor patients departments of both private and public hospitals. We will opt for genome sequencing to understand the pattern of the viruses and their impact on the city,” said Dr Chowdhary.

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