44 died so far; symptoms similar to Covid; K’taka has highest 458 cases, Telengana 443, Delhi 412, TN 253 and UP has 252
Amid Covid-19 pandemic, India is all set to be hit by the deadly Swine flu virus (H1N1) with about 2,721 cases and 44 deaths already reported this year.
Karnataka tops the list with (458 cases) followed by Telangana (443), Delhi (412), Tamil Nadu (253) and Uttar Pradesh (252), as per the data available from the website of the National Control Disease Centre (NCDC), under the Union Health Ministry.
Last year, a total of 28,798 cases were registered while 1,218 people had succumbed to the virus.
With H1N1 cases on the rise, which had taken shape of pandemic in 2009 world over, officials in the Union Health Ministry are already on their toes even as they struggle to contain Covid-19 which is now reaching nearly 3 million cases. So far over 54,000 people have died due to the deadly novel coronavirus.
A senior health official said that symptoms of H1N1 influenza are almost similar to coronavirus — running nose, fever, and cough. Other symptoms for swine flu are sore throat, body aches and chills much like coronavirus, it too can spread through droplets released in the air due to coughing or sneezing or coming in contact with a carrier.
However, good thing is that unlike coronavirus, whose vaccine is being worked upon, H1N1 has an existing flu shot to prevent its spread. Incidentally, prevention strategies are same as that for the Covid-19.
“If a person is sick, it’s better to stay home as it can be infectious. Washing hands thoroughly and frequently is a must with soap and water. If these are unavailable then one should use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Contain your coughs and sneezes. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. Avoid contact,” said the official of the Health Ministry.
“The most vulnerable groups include pregnant women, children under five years of age, elderly people and those with co-morbidities),” said the official.
Replying to a Lok Sabha query on March 13, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health, had said that from January 1, 2020, till March 1, a total of 1,469 cases of the seasonal H1N1 had been recorded, resulting in the deaths of 30 people.