Even as the swine flu has claimed 485 lives in the first six weeks of this year itself, the Union Health Ministry on Friday admitted that it is yet to ascertain the reasons for the sudden spurt in the H1N1 virus incidences in the country. However, the Ministry has maintained that the strain of the virus has not mutated and the available medicine ie Tamiflu is sufficient to treat it. Untill February 12, 485 people have died due to swine flu while number of cases has shot up to 6,298.
In 2014, 937 cases and 218 deaths due to swine flu were reported. In fact, in just two days since February 10, more than 70 people across the States have succumbed to the contagious disease. “This year, there have been 6,298 cumulative cases while there have been 485 deaths from January 1 to February 12,” Arun Panda, Additional Secretary, Union Health Ministry told reporters on Friday.
He said that the incidence of swine flu and deaths happen during this time of the year. “It does not happen in May, June or even March. It is inversely proportional to the ambient temperature. Once the temperature shoots up, the incidence comes down. “There is no explanation and reason behind this spurt... The virus is the same H1N1 strain since 2009. There has been no mutation.
“So, it’s very difficult to explain why in a particular year it has come down so drastically and, then, the very next year, it shot up again,” Panda said, adding, however, that “the rise is a cause of concern.” However, he said that there was no need to be panic as the people showing symptoms of the disease should contact the doctors within 48 hours for better treatment. While claiming that all the medical facilities to treat the patients were in place, he said that the Ministry will write to the States to ensure that the diagnostic centres do not charge high from the patients who are being recommended blood test.