Swine flu 2nd wave is here until Sept: NIV Pune:
The second wave of the pandemic H1N1 influenza is here, and the
infection rate this time is likely to be higher than in the
first wave, the National Institute of Virology (NIV) said on
Thursday. The wave is presently strong in Mumbai, Pune and
Bangalore, the NIV said, adding that there was no need to panic
as vaccines were available. The second phase is likely to last
until September. “We are in it now. The second wave of the pandemic virus has already begun since mid-July and will continue till September. We need to be prepared for whatever surprises this capricious new virus delivers next,’’ NIV director A C Mishra told TOI. “There will be more cases, and transmission of the virus will spread to virgin areas during the second wave. However, there is no need to panic as the vaccines against the H1N1 influenza are there to protect us from the infection,’’ Mishra said. Asked if the virus was expected to behave more virulently this time, Mishra said the clinical severity of the second wave may not be different from the first phase. “It is too early to say anything right now. But there will be more cases,’’ he said. “The infection rate during the second wave is likely to be higher as well. However, the virus is still susceptible to Tamiflu and barring a few point mutations, the virus has not changed much,’’ he said.
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