Swine flu cases rise to 112 in Pune; 17 deaths since January

PUNE: Extended winter, wide fluctuation in day and night temperatures and the declining immunity among people have sent swine flu cases soaring in the city as well as the state this year so far.
Between January 1 and April 8 this year, as many as 1,195 people tested positive for swine flu in the state, including 112 from the city, as against just 10 cases in the same period last year.Besides, the contagion has claimed 90 lives in Maharashtra, including 17 from Pune, this year so far as against just four in the corresponding period the previous year.

When it comes to case tally, Nagpur recorded maximum 303 cases, followed by Mumbai (214) and Nashik (203) (see box). Currently, condition of six patients diagnosed with the contagion is critical and they have been put on ventilator support at different hospitals in Pune.
A senior state health directorate official said barring 18 cities, there had been an active virus transmission in the remaining parts of the state. “Considering the virus activity at its peak in some states, including neighbouring Gujarat, we have told our health officials to continuously keep monitoring the situation,” he said.
Nashik has recorded maximum 25 casualties in the state, followed by Nagpur (23) and Pune (17). “Pune city has recorded another 18 swine flu deaths. But, since the cause of death in these casualties is yet to be ascertained by the state’s death audit committee, they have not been included in the state’s list,” a health official said.
The 18 cities with zero cases in Maharashtra are Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar, Vasai-Virar, Raigad, Solapur, Ratnagiri, Nandurbar, Aurangabad, Hingoli, Jalna, Parbhani, Beed, Osmanabad, Bhandara, Wardha, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli.
“Very few people are inclined towards vaccinating themselves against the contagion. Vaccination provide protection from infections and ensures that antibodies are produced in adequate measures to fight viruses,” paediatrician Sanjay Mankar, president of Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), Pune branch, said.
Family physician Dinesh Gharge said, “The elderly, especially those above the age of 65 years, are at the high risk of developing influenza or pneumonia. They should go for swine flu vaccination and pneumococcal vaccination (once in five years) to avoid any complications.”
Over 2.75 lakh people in Pune city with flu-like symptoms have been screened for the virus, among which 3,629 have been administered oseltamivir, popularly known as Tamiflu or Fluvir, as they were suspected to have contracted the infection.
“The behaviour pattern of influenza viruses has been unpredictable. It is, however, difficult to categorically pinpoint the reasons for rise in cases. The extended winter with cold wave conditions , wide fluctuation in day and night temperature during summer and the declining immunity level in people are among the contributing factors,” a National Institute of Virology scientist said.
Medical experts said the cases tend to come down during the summer months as the heat rises. “However, the cases have continued to rise in the state despite the soaring temperature,” an expert said.