Swine flu spreads tentacles in state

Thursday, 07/02/2013

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130207/punjab.htm#1

Chandigarh : Worried over the rising number of deaths due to swine flu this year, Punjab has put a formal query to the National Centre for Disease Control on the possibility of a change in the causative virus.

Swine flu has claimed 20 lives in the state since January 13, which is five times the figure of four deaths due to H1N1 during the same period last year. At least 78 swine flu cases have so far been reported this year while 18 patients from other states were admitted at the PGI, Chandigarh. However, there were just 13 confirmed cases of swine flue last year.

The rising number of H1N1 cases has created panic among doctors in the state who have been calling the Health Department head office in Chandigarh, asking for vaccination which has not arrived till date. The supply of an exclusive H1N1 vaccination meant for doctors, nurses, attendants and students of medical colleges was stopped in 2012 after it was declared that H1N1 was not a pandemic.

Dr Deepak Bhatia, State Surveillance Officer of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project, said: "A spurt in the number of swine flu deaths could be due to a mutational change in the causative virus. We have referred the case to the central lab seeking an update on the strands to understand the sequencing if needed".

Dr Bhatia said a change in the mutation would mean a change was required in medication. Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) is the only medicine available at the moment.

Dr Bhatia said: "The exclusive medicine meant only for the medical staff is not available at the moment. The supply from the World Health Organisation (WHO) was stopped after the H1N1 became localised.

Dr Hardeep Singh, president of the government doctors association, said: "An increase in the number of swine flu cases indicates the possibility of a change in virus mutation. We need to stick to the basic precautions like washing hands frequently, wearing masks and avoiding close contacts while attending swine flue patients".

Dr Bhatia said the problem was first reported as a pandemic in 2009 when it spread to more than 200 countries starting from Mexico.

In Punjab, between April 2009 and April 2010, as many as 252 positive cases were reported. Out of these, 40 persons died. Between the period of August 2010 and September 2011, 46 persons were tested positive, out of whom, 23 died.

alarming figures

    At least 78 swine flu cases have been reported so far this year against 13 confirmed cases last year

    It has created panic among doctors who are yet to get the supply of vaccination meant exclusively for the medical staff

    The supply was stopped last year after it was declared that H1N1 was not a pandemic

About the disease

    H1N1 is a flu virus. First detected in 2009, it was called "swine flu" because the virus was similar to those found in pigs

    The H1N1 virus is a seasonal flu virus found in humans

    The symptoms of H1N1 are the same as seasonal flu symptoms

    The H1N1 flu virus spreads between people in the same way that seasonal flu viruses spread

how to prevent

    The best way to prevent the H1N1 flu is to get the seasonal flu vaccine

    The 2011-12 flu vaccine includes protection against the H1N1 flu virus