With dip in temperature, swine flu grips district

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 17

With the incessant increase of positive cases and four deaths, the district is heading towards the worst swine flu outbreak. In fact, from just seven positive cases of the H1N1 influenza in 2018 to 51 this year, the home district of Health and Family Welfare Minister, has already spooked city dwellers. 

However, the district health authorities claimed that the situation was far better as compared to other states in the country. Civil Surgeon, Dr Manjit Singh said, “Though the incidence of virus is higher this year, the mortality rate is less. This clearly shows that the district Health Department has provided early treatment, which has led to drop in the mortality rate.”

It is pertinent to mention that in 2015, the district had witnessed 37 H1N1 cases while only six cases were recorded in 2016. Health officials said 29 cases were recorded in 2017 while only seven cases were detected in 2018 in Patiala district.

Meanwhile, health experts believe that prolonged winters contributed to spread of the virus. Experts said the district was witnessing swine flu outbreak every alternate year. 

The number of swine flu patients, reportedly, was inflated because of the continuous dip in temperature and a longer winter season.

District epidemiologist, Dr Gurmeet said, “Usually the minimum temperature of the day starts to rise in the mid-February, but due to regular snowfall in mountains the temperature hasn’t gone up.” 

In fact, the district Health Department has claimed that the swine flu cases have already declined in the last couple of days.

“The swine flu cases have already decreased in the last few days. We are hoping that by the next week there will be no such case in the district,” added Dr Gurmeet.