Around 124 fresh cases, including 104 adults and 20 children, of seasonal influenza H1N1, including a death, were recorded in the national Capital on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases in Delhi to 1,019, said a report.
According to the national data released by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), around 1,011 cases were recorded till Monday without any death. A senior official from Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) informed the media that out of 1,011 cases, only 895 cases belonged to Delhi, which included 712 adults and 183 children, and the rest were from other States.
Interestingly, till Monday, the Delhi Government had not reported any death due to swine flu this year, but on Tuesday, the report said one death was recorded.
On the contrary, two major hospitals in Delhi, namely Safdarjung Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, recorded 13 deaths collectively last year.
A senior doctor at Safdarjung Hospital confirming the data said, “From January 1 to January 31, around three deaths have been reported at our hospital.”
In January, around 23 cases of H1N1 influenza were reported by the hospital, he said. During the same time period, around 10 fatalities were reported from RML Hospital.
A senior official of DGHS said the deaths which are being reported by the hospitals occur due to other factors and not just because of swine flu alone.
“It is not confirmed weather the deaths are happening due to swine flu or due to some other factors. The patients who have died might have some other diseases already and the influenza worsened the condition,” she said. The virus itself is not capable of killing someone, she added.
Patients with co-morbid condition like low immunity, on immune suppressant, blood cancer, renal transplant, diabetes, heart disease are at high risk of getting infected with swine flu.
With this, Delhi has become second largest city to record seasonal influenza H1N1 this year. Last year, only 205 cases of the disease were reported in the Capital.
Showing concerns, the Delhi Government’s Health Department issued a health advisory on Wednesday.
The advisory said the common symptoms of the flu are fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and difficulty in breathing however the flu can be prevented by avoiding any direct or indirect physical contact with the person infected as the flu is highly contagious.
“Seasonal Influenza (H1N1) is a self- limiting viral, air borne diseases spread from person-to-person, through large droplets generated by the act of coughing and sneezing, indirect contact by touching a contaminated object or surface and close contact,” said the advisory.
The symptoms may include body aches, headache, fatigue, chills, diarrhoea and vomiting and Blood Stained Sputum (a mixture of mucus and saliva), it said further.
Influenza H1N1 can be categorised into three types. While category A which consists of mild fever and cough with occasional bodyache, diarrhoea and vomiting does not require any medication, category B may require medication.
“In addition to all the signs and symptoms mentioned under category-A, if the patient has high grade fever and severe sore throat, may require home isolation and medication,” the advisory stated.
The most dangerous type of the H1N1 influenza is category C. In this category of influenza, the common symptoms are breathlessness, chest pain, drowsiness, fall in blood pressure, sputum mixed with blood and bluish discolouration of nails.
“Children with influenza like illness who had a severe disease as manifested by the red flag signs (somnolence, high and persistent fever, inability to feed well, convulsions, shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, etc),” added the release.
DO’s DON’Ts
· Cover your nose and mouth with disposable tissue or handkerchief while coughing or sneezing
· Frequently wash your hands with soap and water
· Avoid crowded places
· Person suffering from Seasonal Influenza must be confined at home
· Stay more than one arm’s length distance from persons sick with flu
· Take adequate sleep and rest
· Drink plenty of water/liquids and eat nutritious food
· Person suspected with Influenza like illness must consult doctor
· Touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
· Hugging, kissing and shaking hands while greeting
· Spitting in public places
· Taking medicines without consulting doctor
· Excessive physical exercise
· Disposal of used napkin or tissue paper in open areas
· Touching surfaces usually used by public (Railing, door gates, etc)
· Smoking in public places
· Unnecessary testing