Swine flu cases spiked three times over across North India in January as compared to the total number of cases these states had seen in the whole of 2018, a report released by the health ministry has revealed.
The spike has caused state governments to issue precautions. Experts say the virus is mutated and isn't seasonal anymore. Cases have even been reported from Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, states which had been quieter in previous years. "From January 1 to February 3, 168 cases tested positive in Kashmir, of which 10 died. In the entire of last year, 75 cases tested positive, of whom 14 died," said SM Kadri, head, Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir.
In Himachal, 105 cases had been reported by February 3, with 14 deaths. "We have created isolation wards and are making sure we provide vaccines to all healthcare staff. Precautionary measures have been circulated," said Dr Sonam Negi, disease surveillance officer, Himachal Pradesh.
Gujarat too is seeing around 40 cases every day. Till Monday evening, the state had reported 898 cases and 43 deaths. "We are keeping a close eye on the swine flu situation, and expect cases to start coming down," said a government official.
In Rajasthan, the disease claimed 221 lives in 2018, and still poses a challenge, with 42 per cent of all deaths in India coming from the state. As per daily monitoring report from the health department, till February 4, 2,455 people have tested positive for the influenza virus H1N1 in the state, of whom 86 succumbed due to the illness.
In Delhi, meanwhile, 895 cases were reported till February 4, including 40 on Monday alone. Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former director general, Indian Council of Medical Research, had earlier confirmed that the H1N1 virus has mutated. The new strain, Michigan, was discovered in India early in 2018. The California strain has existed since 2009.
State Of Panic And Danger
- 168 cases tested positive in J&K, of which 10 died
- In Himachal, the figures are 105 cases and 14 deaths
- Gujarat saw 898 cases and 43 deaths by February 3
- Rajasthan saw 221 deaths in 2018, had 2,455 people test positive and 86 deaths
- Delhi saw 895 cases, with 40 deaths on Monday alone
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