Is H1N1 back? Most victims are from city

Sumitra Deb Roy | TNN
 

Mumbai: Along with the showers, the H1N1 virus is likely to make a comeback in the city, and the figures too seem to be pointing towards the likelihood. The state has found out that since the onset of monsoon, about 57% of the virus’ victims have been from Mumbai.
    Figures show that of the 113 people who tested positive for swine flu in Maharashtra in June, as many as 65 are from Mumbai. This is not all. Experts have also observed that the virus is gradually affecting the thorax and the brain, giving way to neurological complications, other than affecting the lungs.
    On Wednesday, a marathon meeting was held by the directorate of health services in the city, and included state directors, the BMC, experts from the National Institute of Virology and Pune’s Sassoon General Hospital. Several issues regarding the virus, its potency and the city’s preparedness to tackle it, were discussed.
    Although experts found that the virulence of the virus has remained the same since the previous year, certain changes have been noticed. “There was an observation among doctors that the virus is also causing neurological complications as it reaches the brain. In certain cases, it had also affected the thorax (portion between neck and diaphragm), but it still majorly affects the lungs,” said Dr Pravin Shingare, joint director, Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER).
    Director of National Institute of Virology in Pune Dr AC Mishra said, “It is likely that there will be a rise in the cases. So, people have to be alert,” he said. “H1N1 is still a pandemic unless WHO decides otherwise.’’
    Apparently, the state is likely to coax its doctors into taking the injectable vaccine. Head of epidemiology cell of BMC Dr Daksha Shah confirmed the renewed efforts will be taken to convince doctors to take the shots.
Deadly Strain
Deaths in Maharashtra since last year | 477 This year | 62 Deaths in Mumbai in June alone | 3 Positive cases in state in the past three months | 501 In June alone | 64