Delhi Sees Rise in Swine Flu Cases With Bad Weather

Swine flu cases rise in the capital due to rain over the last two days. Health department officials said the total number of swine flu would go down from this month. But nearly 1,000 new swine flu cases were reported in the last two weeks alone, taking the total number of swine flu cases close to 4,000 since January. Dr S K Sharma, Director of health services, said, “Once the temperature rises, usually after Holi, cases subside every year. But this year, the weather has been unpredictable and we are seeing rains every 2-3 days. So the temperature is dipping and the H1N1 cases continue to come in. This is due to the prevailing weather conditions and there is no reason to panic.”

According to health experts, dengue cases start surfacing during and after the monsoon and swine flu cases become rare. This year, with three dengue cases reported between March 1 to March 15, swine flu cases increased from 2,999 to 3,998.

A total number of 278 patients tested positive for swine flu in Delhi, in the last three days. This year, death toll due to swine flu reached 11, including two pregnant women and a child.

“Treatment and diagnostic facilities will be kept functional till the swine flu cases subside. With 40 to 50 cases reported everyday, isolation centers will be kept open and doctors will continue treatment for A,B and C category patients,” said, a Health department official.

For patients in C category, with symptoms like difficulty in breathing and no co-morbid conditions should be tested for H1N1 virus. Health department has revised guidelines for category B patients, including children, senior citizens or those with diabetes, cancer that they be given Tamiflu directly without testing.

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Source-Medindia