India saw spike in swine flu in 2022, death toll at 410
1 min read . Updated: 30 Jan 2023, 11:55 PM IST
Premium- There were 13,202 reported H1NI cases last year, with 410 deaths. In comparison, 12 people died from swine flu in 2021.
NEW DELHI : India is seeing a surge in H1N1, or swine flu, even as it reports fewer covid-19 cases.
There were 13,202 reported H1NI cases last year, with 410 deaths. In comparison, 12 people died from swine flu in 2021.
Given the low number of covid cases, the samples after turning negative are sent for H1N1 further testing.
According to the National Centre for Disease Control’s (NCDC) Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, the highest number of cases have been reported from Maharashtra (3,714), followed by Tamil Nadu (2,827), Gujarat (2,174), West Bengal (659), Karnataka (517), Delhi (412), Chhattisgarh (399) and Uttar Pradesh (388).
Most deaths have been reported from Maharashtra (215), followed by Gujarat (71), Punjab (42), Tamil Nadu (25), Karnataka (15), Haryana (12) and Rajasthan (11).
“We are seeing large number of pandemic influenza H1N1 cases. This reporting of cases is due to the extensive covid-19 surveillance and alert. Whenever a sample is referred for covid-19 testing and when it is negative, parallelly it is also tested for H1N1 because symptoms of both the diseases are similar," said a scientist at NIV Pune requesting anonymity.
Queries emailed to the health ministry spokesperson remained answered.
At present, India is reporting fewer than 100 cases daily.
As per ICMR’s influenza surveillance dashboard, H1N1 and H3N2 strains are circulating this year.
“We are seeing para influenza, H3 influenza, H1N1 and meta pheno virus. These cases start with throat infection, pain, fever and some of the patients are witnessing viral pneumonia. We are recommending influenza vaccine to patients with pre-exisitng illness like those suffering with diabetes, cancer, diabetes etc because influenza comes along with a new virus every year," said Dr Bobby Bhalhotra, pulmonologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
