E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like Amid rising H1N1 (swine flu) cases in the city, Delhi health minister will hold a meeting with municipal health officers (MHO) and officials of all government hospitals on Monday to assess the situation, officials aware of the matter said on Sunday. The Centre and Delhi government are expected to assess surveillance mechanisms, hospital preparedness and the availability of medicines, testing facilities and hospital beds regarding the rise in H1N1 case in the state. (Representative/AI image)Health minister Pankaj Singh has also issued directions to chief district medical officers, district surveillance officers and hospitals on the screening, reporting, and monitoring of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) cases. ALSO READ | No new H1N1 strain in circulation, current vaccines effective: ICMR officials amid rising cases “Technical guidelines covering patient categorisation, treatment protocols, ventilatory management, masks and home care have already been circulated. Healthcare workers are being sensitised and trained on symptoms and follow-up protocols,” said one official. This comes after Singh attended the health review meeting chaired by Union minister for health and family welfare JP Nadda on Friday. Nadda had stressed the need for continued vigilance, stronger surveillance and early clinical management to prevent further spread. ALSO READ | Seek medical advice if experiencing H1N1 symptoms: Govt's directive as cases surge According to official Delhi health authorities, the Capital has recorded 2,392 influenza-A cases this year. Of this, H1N1 is the predominant subtype, accounting for 1,777 cases. Speaking to HT, Singh said, “There is a definite rise in cases and several patients are presenting with high-graded fever, but…we have not received any reports yet of patients needing ICU or ventilator cases. I can assure that there is no need to panic at all.” He further said, “Delhi is fully prepared to deal with the present health situation. There is no shortage of beds, doctors, medicines or essential medical equipment, and every patient will receive timely and appropriate treatment.” ALSO READ | 1,777 cases, zero deaths: The science of H1N1, the surge in Delhi and how it differs from Covid-19 The health minister also urged citizens to follow respiratory hygiene, use masks in crowded places, maintain hand hygiene, avoid close contact with people suffering from respiratory illness and consult doctors rather than self-medicate. According to National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) data, Delhi has recorded more than 3,000 H1N1 cases in three recent outbreak years – 4,307 cases in 2015, 3,627 in 2019 and 3,151 in 2024. This year’s tally of nearly 1,777 cases remains well below those peaks. The data also shows that larger outbreaks do not necessarily translate into higher mortality. Delhi has not recorded any H1N1 deaths since 2019, when 31 people died when caseload touched 3,627. In contrast, the city witnessed another major outbreak in 2024 without recording any deaths. Doctors say multiple factors may be driving the rise in H1N1 infections this year. Dr Neetu Jain, senior consultant, pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at PSRI Hospital, said, “High humidity and temperatures can contribute to the spread of influenza and other viral infections” Low uptake of the low uptake of influenza vaccination and the fact that “there have been fewer significant flu outbreaks in the last two to three years, which means many people may not have had recent exposure to influenza viruses” may be other factors contributing to the uptick in cases, Jain said. Dr Sunil Rana, associate director and Head, Internal Medicine (Unit III), Asian Hospital, said more patients are seeking testing soon after symptoms begin rather than waiting for the illness to resolve on its own. “Swine flu and H3N2 can present with overlapping symptoms in the early days, so testing is key rather than guessing or self-medicating. We are seeing good recovery rates because patients are reaching us in time,” he said. Dr Praveen Kumar, additional medical superintendent of the GTB hospital said, “The hospital has increased its preparedness to manage the situation. Currently, the situation is not so bad that people should panic.” H1N1 is a subtype of the influenza-A virus that emerged during the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Ridhima Gupta is a Principal Correspondent at Hindustan Times, where she covers healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and public health policy. Her reporting centers on Delhi’s major hospitals (AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak), the state health department, and emerging medical trends. Ridhima is particularly interested in reporting on healthcare issues through the lens of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Her work often explores the intersection of healthcare and public policy, examining how these factors shape access health care. Based in New Delhi, many of her reports have led to direct government action over the years, in different city. Earlier this year, she completed a media training workshop on the Impact of Extreme Heat on Health, organised by the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), further strengthening her interest in reporting on the intersection of climate change and public health. A postgraduate from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Ridhima has around a decade of experience in journalism. She began her career as a trainee television reporter with Mirror Now in Mumbai and has since worked across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi, contributing to both print and broadcast newsrooms. She is a recipient of the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022) for her reporting on education, disability, and women’s issues. Before joining Hindustan Times, Ridhima worked with The Times of India, New Indian Express and News18. A native of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Ridhima completed her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology. And when she is not working as a journalist she likes to paint and go on nature hikes.Read More
المصدر: Hindustan Times
| Source: Hindustan Times
