Doctors urge citizens to test for H1N1

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic plaguing the state of Maharashtra, infectious disease experts have warned of Influenza H1N1, also known as swine flu.

In recent developments, doctors have cautioned the citizens against H1N1, especially since both H1N1 and coronavirus have similar symptoms. The H1N1 flu, commonly known as swine flu, is primarily caused by the H1N1 strain of the flu (influenza) virus. H1N1 is a type of influenza A virus, and H1N1 is one of the flu virus strains that can cause seasonal flu. Symptoms of the H1N1 flu are the same as those of the seasonal flu.

According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, infectious disease expert Dr Vasant Nagvekar recently treated two patients who presented with cold, fever and headache. However, the warning trigger point happened to be when a 30-year-old patient who had earlier recovered from COVID-19 also tested positive for the coronavirus.

Dr Nagvekar, who consults with Lilavati and Global hospitals, said they sent the patient’s samples for the H1N1 test and it returned a positive result. He has so far seen two cases of H1N1 and the third one of H3N2, also a subtype of influenza A. “The message here is there are other viruses in circulation and doctors should keep them in mind, especially when a patient is not responding to Covid treatment,” he said.

Moreover, there have been two confirmed cases of H1N1 reported to Mumbai’s civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) this year, said Dr Mangala Gomare, BMC’s executive health officer.

Furthermore, Mumbai had clocked 44 cases last year since the outbreak of the coronavirus. Moreover, there were 451 cases and five deaths due to H1N1 in 2019.

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