Sharp increase in swine flu cases at PGIMS

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, January 14

A significant increase has been registered in the number of swine-flu cases at the PGIMS, Rohtak, this year, though doctors maintained that there was no need to panic and people just needed to be cautious and take vaccinations for the disease.

Dr Dhruva Chaudhry, Senior Professor and Head of the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the PGIMS/University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, said influenza infection peaks during the winter season and there has been a spurt in the cases of swine-flu as well as normal flu as compared to the last season.

“Last year (2017-18), we had 82 suspected cases of swine-flu, of whom seven tested positive for swine-flu and five for normal flu (Influenza A). This year (2018-19), we got 131 patients tested till January 12, of whom 36 tested positive for swine-flu and 30 for normal flu,” he said, adding that a majority of patients were from Hisar, Bhiwani, Jind and Fatehabad districts.

As per the experts, normal flu (Influenza A) is identified by H3N2 virus, while swine-flu is identified by H1N1 virus. The H1N1 virus, which had California strain till about a couple of years ago, has lately undergone changes and now shows Michigan strain.

Prof Chaudhry said there was no need to panic, but the persons having symptoms of flu should be cautious and seek medical advice timely. Those who come in contact with the infected persons, especially doctors, nurses and other paramedics, should take precautions and get themselves vaccinated, he stated.

It may be pertinent to mention here that the average efficacy of the anti-influenza vaccination is about 60 per cent.

The expert further pointed out that the elderly, diabetic and obese individuals, pregnant women and patients on immunosuppressant medication like steroids and anti-cancer drugs are more susceptible to the influenza infection, adding that frequent fliers to various international destinations are also likely to catch some infection from foreign lands.