Coronavirus cases in the country have been on a rise once again, and with the monsoon already in Mumbai, healthcare experts have been focusing on tackling issues related to Dengue, Malaria and other weather-prone conditions. Amidst this, experts, over the last few weeks, have also notice a rise in H1N1 cases along with influenza cases.
Reports state that the infection has been causing symptoms like fever, cough, cold, fatigue, etc. in patients who have reported the condition. Primarily found in pigs, H1N1 and other respiratory viruses have been spreading frequently in the city.
Surge in these cases have increased concerns for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), as the officials have already noted three cases July, whereas only two cases were found in June 2022.
A report regarding the same was published in the Free Press Journal, which quoted Kishore Sathe, Specialist Emergency Medicine, P.D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre who said, “We are seeing an upward trend in H1N1 cases, particularly in the last 15 days. The majority are mild symptomatic but don't not need hospital admissions. Daily at least one patient is testing positive.”
Adding more, Dr Manjusha Agarwal, senior consultant-internal medicine at Global Hospital, Parel, “Along with patients, it’s important that general practitioners should be aware of this non-COVID flu so that there is no delay in treatment. We have not seen any complications of swine flu-like ARDS which was a dreaded complication during the 2010-12 wave. Vaccination of all elderly people beyond 65 years of age with comorbidities, younger susceptible populations with influenza vaccination is imperative.”
Patients have reported symptoms like high-grade fever, sore throat, cough and cold which are similar for the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. When tested for COVID, the results show negative and hence doctors are suggesting additional tests for swine flu, which in many cases have shown to be positive. While patients are rejecting or showing negligence with testing, doctors have suggested immediate treatment with antiviral therapy when a patient has tested positive. Experts have also noted rise in cases across the country. Moreover, comments have been made that despite the increase in cases, the rate of infection has also seen a rise this year
The publication quoted a doctor from Mumbai’s KEM hospital who said, “In the past one month, we have seen 7 to 8 cases and most of them have symptoms similar to COVID-19 like fever, cough, sore throat. If I test 10 people with these symptoms, the majority are turning positive for influenza and Swine Flu.”
As the tests for swine flu are expensive, doctors in Mumbai have been offering treatment for the infection based on the clinical parameters and it is being said that most of the patients have been responding to the treatment.
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