As a rise in seasonal diseases in the capital of our nation is being observed lately, doctors here claim that the latest threat in trend is the abrupt increse in H1N1 (swine flu) cases. A petty observation suggests that the virus has returned to terrorise the Capital again after a span of a few years.
According to the figures generated by the Central government, Delhi has recorded a figure of 1,507 cases (as on July 26, 2013) and 16 deaths. The last panic-like situation created by this disease in Delhi was in 2009-10.
As we are discussing over the preparations, Delhi Health Minister A. K. Walia said: “We are concerned about the situation and are putting in place some measures to ensure that the rise is controlled. All city hospitals have been asked to follow the H1N1 protocol, including ensuring isolation wards with dedicated staff for patients coming in with the flu. The State government is also looking at ensuring enough supply and availability of Tamiflu at all centres”.
Doctors in the capital city claim that they have been viewing the cases of swine flu since very early this year.
Swine flu or the H1N1 flu as we call it, was at its peak in the country when it had spread in 2009. As per the records till May 2010, 1,035 people had died of the disease in India and more than approximately 10,000 were infected.
“Symptoms of H1N1 Influenza include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Many people with swine flu have had diarrhoea and vomiting. But these symptoms can also be caused by many other conditions. The accuracy of tests for detecting swine flu depends on the quality of the manufacturer’s test, the sample collection method, and how much virus a person is shedding at the time of testing,” stated Delhi Medical Association member Anil Bansal.
The basic norms and precautions for keeping swine flu at a distance include simple habits such as washing of hands frequently in order to avoid infection, and most importantly trying to stay away from crowded places and also people who have tested positive for the the disease.
