Delhi records 1,777 H1N1 cases; Govt urges masks, timely medical care

New Delhi: Amid a rise in H1N1 (swine flu) cases in the national capital, the Delhi government has issued a health advisory urging people to follow respiratory hygiene, avoid crowded places and seek timely medical advice.

Delhi has recorded more than 2,300 Influenza-A cases this year, including over 1,777 H1N1 cases till Friday. According to the health department, 114 H1N1 cases were reported on Thursday alone.

The advisory asks people to cover their mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, wash their hands regularly with soap and water, wear masks in crowded places and avoid close contact with people suffering from respiratory illnesses, reports PTI.

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People have also been advised to avoid touching their eyes and nose, refrain from spitting in public places and take adequate fluids.

If symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, breathing difficulty, body ache or headache appear, seek medical advice instead of taking medicines without consulting a doctor, the advisory said.

The health department had earlier stated that Delhi was fully prepared to deal with the seasonal rise in influenza cases, with adequate beds, doctors, medicines and essential medical equipment available in hospitals.

It said 35 hospitals have been kept under special surveillance and two referral laboratories have been designated at AIIMS and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Technical guidelines covering patient categorisation, treatment protocols, ventilatory management, use of masks and home care have also been issued.

Advisories have been sent to chief district medical officers, district surveillance officers and hospitals regarding screening, reporting and monitoring of influenza-like illness (ILI), severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), influenza and COVID-19 cases on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) portal as per the guidelines.

Training and orientation of healthcare workers on the existing guidelines, signs and symptoms of these illnesses and the required follow-up action are also being undertaken, the department added.

According to health department data, 159 influenza cases were reported on Thursday. Of these, 155 were Influenza-A cases, including 114 H1N1, two H1, one H3 and 38 other Influenza-A cases. Four Influenza-B cases were also reported.

The total number of influenza cases reported in Delhi this year stands at 2,602, including 2,392 Influenza-A and 210 Influenza-B cases till Friday.

Among the Influenza-A cases, 1,777 are H1N1, 37 H1, 138 H3 and 440 other cases. The Influenza-B tally includes 200 Victoria strain cases and 10 other cases.

According to the PTI report, Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh attended a meeting chaired by Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Friday to review Delhi's preparedness to deal with seasonal influenza and vector-borne diseases.

In an official statement issued after the meeting, Singh said there was no shortage of beds, doctors, medicines or essential medical equipment in the capital. He said the patient tally was being monitored and hospital arrangements were being strengthened according to requirements.

The health department earlier said the Delhi State Health Mission was keeping a close watch on the influenza situation through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and monitoring morbidity and mortality linked to the infection.

The state surveillance unit is monitoring daily data on influenza, ILI and SARI cases reported through the IDSP-IHIP portal. A daily bulletin is generated and shared with higher authorities, the department said.

An inter-sectoral meeting was held on August 20 under the chairpersonship of the secretary, Health and Family Welfare, with officials from the MCD, NDMC, Cantonment Board, Education Department and DDA. The departments were directed to step up public awareness and information, education and communication measures for prevention and control of seasonal influenza.

Daily review meetings are also being held with all chief district medical officers under the chairpersonship of the mission director, Delhi State Health Mission, to review the influenza situation.

Health facilities and hospitals are conducting awareness activities through health talks in outpatient departments and displaying information, education, and communication (IEC) material. IEC material approved by the Centre has also been sent to local bodies and hospitals for wider circulation.

A refresher training session for district officers was held on August 17 on the current influenza situation at the national and state levels, as well as case definitions and treatment.

Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses that circulate across the world. According to the health department, young children and elderly people with co-morbidities are among those most vulnerable to the infection.

India generally witnesses two peaks of seasonal influenza every year, one between January and March and another during the post-monsoon period. H1N1 is the predominant subtype in Delhi this year, while H3N2 was predominant last year, it added.

Surveillance guidelines are in place and are being followed throughout the year, with efforts being made to prevent and control the spread of influenza.

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