Spike in severe H1N1 cases this year worries doctors
Times of India | 1 August 2024
Kolkata: With the rise in H1N1 cases in the city, doctors have started coming across patients with severe infection, some needing intensive care treatment. Though influenza is common around this time of the year, health officials said Aug and Sept were crucial and that there was a possibility in the spike in the number of severe cases. Most of the severe cases were detected among the elderly, who also had comorbidities, said doctors.
TOI on Monday reported on the death of a cancer patient (54), who had tested positive for H1N1, which caused swine flu. Patients with mild infection has cold, cough, fever, chills and sore throat, but those with severe infection can suffer respiratory distress and severe pneumonia. “Unlike the past few years, we have started getting patients with severe H1N1 who need intensive care. The influenza virus, like others, evolves. The severe cases this time could be due to a change,” said internal medicine specialist Rahul Jain.
According to health officials, Bengal has not recorded any death due to swine flu after 2021. The state has recorded 292 cases till June this year, around 70 being in June alone.
“The rise in H1N1 cases among the extreme age groups—children and elderly—is due to their lower immunity. Seasonal change and temperature fluctuations help spread the virus. People should take the same precautions they do for other viral fevers. Since the disease is airborne, wearing a light mask and maintaining proper hygiene and distance are advised,” said Dibyendu Mukherjee, director, internal medicine, Fortis Anandapur, where two patients, aged 73 and 51 years, are in ICU.
“The risk groups should take guard by taking the annual flu vaccine, avoiding crowd, wearing masks and maintaining hand hygiene,” said Biswajit Ghoshdastidar, director, general medicine, Woodlands Multispeciality. The hospital has three H1N1 patients now.
Health experts said while H1N1 influenza virus got active in winter and monsoon, the outbreak in the rains was bigger in this region. “While most are mild cases, a few need intensive support. Late diagnosis and comorbidities can worsen the condition. There is a potent antiviral. Also, taking the yearly vaccine before monsoon can protect the vulnerable,” said infection diseases specialist Sayan Chakraborty of Manipal Hospitals, Dhakuria.