Fears grow as 100 people die from swine flu in three days in India

New Delhi: Swine flu is spreading in India having already claimed 663 lives in the last 45 days, with the number testing positive for the virus crossing the 10,000 mark.

According to official figures released by the Central government, 10,025 people have suffered from the H1N1 virus so far this year — a new high in recent years. Over 100 deaths were reported in just the past three days.

There is reasonable worry that the actual figures may be much higher than on record since a number of cases go unreported, doctors say.

To prevent the spread of swine flu, the only option is to isolate the patients. But in a country like India, where awareness about the flu and general hygiene is low, this becomes a difficult process.

Many patients die of swine flu even before they can be diagnosed with the virus.

According to doctors, the actual number of deaths could be much higher than assumed.

“More people are getting tested and treated for H1N1. The situation is bad but at least people are aware and going to the hospitals for the check-up. Prescribing the antiviral Oseltamivir lowers the viral-load, shortens the duration and severity of symptoms and makes the patient less contagious,” Dr S.N. Gaur, head of pulmonary medicine, Patel Chest Institute, Delhi, told Gulf News.

There appears to be some anomaly in figures reported by the Centre and states.

While central data showed that only three persons contracted the virus in Jammu and Kashmir this year, a senior health official from the state said at least one person had died due to it while over 70 tested positive.

Going strictly by the government figures, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are the worst-hit with 191, 155 and 90 deaths reported from the states respectively.

In Punjab, the toll has risen to 24 while in neighbouring Haryana, the total number of deaths stands at 17. Nagaland reported its first confirmed case with a woman testing positive for the flu.

Six people have died in Uttar Pradesh, where the number of positive cases touched 114.

Authorities at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) said eight confirmed cases had been reported at the university, prompting the suspension of all classes and academic activity at the campus until February 25.

Delhi has witnessed 1,608 swine flu cases till now with six deaths.

Delhi’s famous Sir Ganga Ram Hospital witnessed the first death due to swine flu on December 26 last year.

Meanwhile, the major concern for the Telangana government is that cases have not gone down despite temperatures rising in Hyderabad.

On Wednesday alone, 30 cases were reported. The government hopes that the cases will go down with the onset of summer.

With more and more swine flu cases being reported from across the country, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Wednesday chaired a high-level review meeting.

In the meeting, the officials assessed reports from states and measures to deal with the infectious disease.

The sources said the Health Minster is taking daily review meetings.

Tamiflu has now been declared a schedule X drug. Hence, around 10,000 chemists across the country will be able to sell the drug. The government claims they have enough medicines and they have provided an extra 60,000 medicines and 10,000 kits.

Stepping up its efforts, the Centre’s Health Ministry has started a new testing facility at the premier All India Institute for Medical Sciences (AIIMS) while a round-the-clock monitoring cell is now in operation at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“Teams of experts from the Health Ministry have visited states of Telangana, Gujarat and Rajasthan to extend technical support. Two such teams are being sent today to Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra,” the Health Ministry said in a statement Thursday.

The Ministry has asked states to study patterns in mortality with the areas, age groups and section of people that have been most affected, in addition to deaths due to co-morbid conditions.

“The states have been asked to study the patterns as to which areas, age groups and sections of people have been most affected, apart from the data on deaths. The guidelines for vaccination of health care workers treating H1N1 patients have also been provided to the states,” Union Health Secretary BP Sharma said.

In Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party government has capped the cost of the test for swine flu at Rs4,500 (Dh260).

“The maximum rate for swine flu tests will be Rs4,500. Clinics can charge less but not more,” Delhi’s Health Minister Satyendra Jain told the Gulf News.

The move comes following complaints that tests are being conducted at exorbitant rates in the city’s private labs. The Delhi government has also issued a helpline number where people can call for all information on swine flu.

“Swine Flu is part of the Influenza A virus family. One does not need to panic if one tests positive for it, as the mortality rate is around one per cent only. With treatment, you can get better and most cases do not require hospitalisation. But a person needs to follow certain instructions so that the chain of infection is cut and the virus doesn’t affect others who can be vulnerable,” Dr Hemant Thacker, physician at Breach Candy Hospital, told the Gulf News.

The Delhi government claims they have authorised 25 hospitals — including seven private hospitals — to treat the flu. Most government hospitals including RML have created an isolation ward for patients, 20-25 beds reserved for patients.