Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
Delhi has reported more than 1,770 cases of swine flu (H1N1) so far this year, while cases of seasonal influenza are also witnessing a rise during the monsoon season.
On Friday, Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, along with senior health department officials, held a meeting with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and senior officials of the Union Health Ministry to review the H1N1 situation in the national capital.
Singh said the situation was being continuously monitored and that all government hospitals had been directed to ensure adequate arrangements for the treatment of influenza patients. Surveillance has also been intensified to track infection patterns, affected areas and potential hotspots.
Separate wards are being prepared in hospitals for patients infected with H1N1, officials said.
Delhi recorded 114 new H1N1 cases in a single day, taking the number of confirmed cases this year to 1,777. The city had reported 1,344 H1N1 cases as of August 6, meaning 433 additional cases were detected in just 14 days.
The Delhi health department has not yet disclosed which hospitals reported the 114 new cases recorded on August 20.
The rise is significantly higher than last year. During the corresponding period last year, Delhi had reported 229 H1N1 cases. This means the number of cases this year is nearly eight times higher.
Experts at AIIMS said fluctuations in temperature and high humidity during the monsoon can contribute to an increase in influenza cases. Elderly people and patients with pre-existing conditions such as lung disease, heart disease and diabetes are at greater risk of developing severe infections.
Elderly people and young children need extra caution
Dr Rishikesh Desai, Consultant Physician in the Department of Internal Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said the hospital has seen an increase in patients with seasonal influenza.
While healthy individuals generally recover from the infection, influenza can become serious in elderly people, pregnant women, young children and those suffering from pre-existing illnesses, he said.
Infectious disease specialist Dr Neha Rastogi Panda also reported an increase in patients with influenza and flu-like symptoms.
High fever and persistent cough should not be ignored
Doctors said many patients are reporting persistent cough and high fever during the current season. Air pollution-related inflammation in the lungs may further aggravate coughing and breathing difficulties in some patients.
Common symptoms of H1N1 infection include fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches and fatigue. Doctors have advised people, particularly those in high-risk groups, not to ignore persistent symptoms and to seek medical attention when required.
