Gurugram records highest Swine flu cases in last 5 yrs

Gururgam: Gurugram this year has recorded the highest number of swine flu cases in the last five years. According to government figures, the total cases have been registered at 71. However, the number of cases being reported from private hospitals has crossed 100. Though not officially confirmed, the total number of cases in Guurgram due to H1N1 influenza virus this year till date stands at 116 .

There have also been three deaths due to H1N1 influenza in the city, a figure that has been acknowledged by the district health department. Moreover, there have been over 300 suspected cases of H1N1 infection. While the increase in cases of viral infection is of a major challenge to health officials, all the cases that have presently come to the fore are not of severe category mention the doctors.

Cooperating with the private hospitals in the city, 65 ventilators have been added for the patients who are in the severe category of the disease. The stock of Tami flu tablets have also been increased and the monitoring of the inventory is being done on regular basis. Moreover, the hours of OPD functioning have been increased to deal with the patients suffering from the disease. Despite the assurance by public health officials, it has been claimed that the health infrastructure required to deal with the diseases is found to be lagging behind.

According to medical experts, swine flu is considered to be a highly contagious infection and therefore there is a fear that the disease can spread quickly.

Taking cognisance of the fact, the Health Department has already warned residents of the deadly virus. It is important to note that after a gap of two years, there were cases of swine flu that were reported from Gurugram. The following year saw five deaths including the death of a seven-month-old baby. In 2018 also, two casualties were reported from the city due to infection.

Even though there has been death because of swine flu reported from states of Karnataka and Delhi, Haryana seems to have been worst affected by the virus in 2018. Hissar, one of the largest cities in the state, has already witnessed eight deaths in which six are women. The trend of casualties began in Hissar in the last week of October, 2018. In the neighbouring Rajasthan, there have been already 100 deaths due to the infection.