H1NI flu cases rise to 30 in Kerala

Incidence of swine flu cases continued to be reported in Kerala with the total number of patients who tested positive this month increasing to 30 by last night.

According to H1N1 monitoring cell of the health department, the highest number of 16 cases were reported from Thiruvananthapuram followed by Kollam (7), Kannur (3) and Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram one each.

However, no death has been reported after one patient died of the infection at Ernakulam General Hospital on June 9, taking the H1N1 toll in the state to 47 since its outbreak last year.

Meanwhile, the spread of other types of viral fever continued to cause worry in several parts of the state with patients pouring into government and private hospitals.

However, health department sources claimed the siutation was under control and all possible measures had been taken to check the spread of the disease.

In many of the fever cases, the patients were given medicine and were asked to take bed rest at home since there was no need for hospitalisation, a health department spokesman said.

Mobile medical services had been pressed into service in worst affected areas. Hygiene campaign had also been stepped up with the involvement of state agencies, civic bodies and NGOs since viral infections were caused by mosquitoes.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/H1NI-flu-cases-rise-to-30-in-Kerala/Article1-556614.aspx

Two deaths later, H1N1 scare back to haunt Mumbai this monsoon

With the dreaded H1N1 virus beginning to rear its head once again this monsoon, civic health authorities do not want to leave anything to chance. After the recent deaths of two pregnant women at Sion hospital due to the virus, authorities are taking all necessary precautions to stop the spread.

“Maharashtra has seen 497 deaths due to H1N1 so far, and on an average about 20 deaths every month,” said Dr Pradeep Awate, head of the H1N1 control room for Maharashtra. However, even though the civic health authorities are being cautious, they stress that there is no need to panic. “There’s no appreciable rise in H1N1 cases,” said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner. “We have alerted the health machinery, and are keeping a watch. Should the situation arise, all standard operating procedures (SOPs) prepared in August last year will be put into practice.”

Like any typical respiratory virus, the H1N1 virus has been in the air all along, is what experts feel. In Maharashtra, the H1N1 outbreak was at its peak during the monsoon last year — July-August. Thus, doctors are being extra cautious this monsoon.

“The change of season has already brought a surge in the number of people suffering from cold, cough and fever. Viral fever is already in the air,” said Dr SN Acharya, a general practitioner. “The humid weather conditions are very conducive to the survival of respiratory viruses like H1N1.”

One major concern is that viral fever is already doing the rounds in Mumbai and last year many cases of viral fever, were reported as swine flu, due to panic. “This should be avoided,” said Dr Jayesh Lele, secretary, Indian Medical Association (Mumbai-West branch). “Considering that swine flu made an appearance around this time last year, it cannot be ruled out. However, it is too early to predict the course of the virus.”

However, according to the IMA, Mumbai is definitely geared up to tackle a H1N1 outbreak. But, it would be advisable for people in the high-risk category - ones suffering from chronic pulmonary disease like asthma, chronic metabolic diseases like diabetes, chronic cardiovascular diseases, chronic renal dysfunction and haemoglobinopathies like thalassaemia, or sickle disorder and immunosupression - to take extra care. “We are also trying to investigate and take swabs for H1N1 diagnosis from all hospitals now,” added Dr GT Ambe, executive health officer.

The H1N1 virus also commonly seems to affect youngsters and pregnant women as opposed to influenza, which affects the elderly. “Any disease during pregnancy is a cause for concern. Pregnancy puts a stress on the body, and any other problem just tends to complicate matters,” said Dr Nandita Palshetkar, consultant gynaecologist, Lilavati Hospital. “My advice to pregnant women would be to avoid crowded areas, use handkerchiefs, hand sanitizers, try to maintain high immunity levels by exercising and have a healthy diet.”

Source http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_first-swine-flu-death-in-eight-months-reported-in-mumbai_1393203

Indigenous H1N1 vaccine launched

India on Thursday got its first vaccine for H1N1 flu, almost an year after the deadly virus-caused flu was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad launched the vaccine, which he said was the first vaccine developed in independent India.

The vaccine, developed by Gujarat based medicine giant Cadilla Healthcare, will provide immunity from the H1N1 strain of virus, which is a mutation of the swine flu virus.

"We had no experience in production of vaccines, but we managed to make it on time," Azad said.

Cadilla's chairman and managing director Pankaj Patel was the first to take the vaccine followed by Azad.

The vaccine will provide immunity to H1N1 for one year.

"The vaccine has not been tested for very long time period, but it must provide immunity for one year," Patel said, adding the virus changes its strain every year. "So anyhow, another shot of vaccine will be needed after a year."

Besides Cadilla Healthcare, the Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech and Panacea Biotech were granted research aid for developing an indigenous vaccine for the virus which claimed more than 1,500 lives in last one year in the country.

The vaccine developed by the Serum Institute is likely to hit the market by the end of this month, while Bharat Biotech and Panacea are likely to launch their vaccine by July and August respectively.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Indigenous-H1N1-vaccine-launched/Article1-552605.aspx