2nd swine flu wave grips Delhi, national toll 569
POSTED November 29, 2009 - 16:48 | POSTED BY Jyoti Pal
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on November 29, 2009 - 17:00
Of the latest deaths, 2 were reported from the national capital Delhi while the 3rd was reported from the southern state of Kerala.
From various parts of the country, 139 fresh cases of infections were also reported on Saturday. The number of people who have contracted the virus till date has inched up to 17,868.
Delhi reported the highest number with 111 positive cases, including 73 children, while Maharashtra, the worst hit state due to the pandemic, reported 19 fresh cases.
“Till Friday, samples from 86,015 people have been tested for swine flu in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country and 20.6 per cent of them have been found positive,” confirmed a statement issued by the health ministry.
2nd wave sweeps capital
A second wave of the dreaded H1N1 is sweeping across the Capital. The situation was anticipated by experts as early as April, when the pandemic broke out in Mexico.
The new surge is associated with a fall in temperature. People have a tendency to crowd together in the winter season, thereby increasing the risk of spreading the flu.
"Things will go from bad to worse from now on because the virus will get an opportunity to genetically re- assort with other human strains," Dr A. K. Prasad, chairman of the Influenza Foundation of India, said.
The festival season coupled with the onset of the wedding season does not help the cause of thwarting the swine fu either.
"In such situations of overcrowding, it's impossible to stall the spread of respiratory tract infections," added Prasad.
What is really worrisome is that the spurt of cases has come at a time when news of swine flu mutations have been reported from other parts of the world, especially Europe.
Nothing to worry, say experts
Doctors have claimed that mutations should not be a cause for concern.
"Healthy people with effective immune responses should be able to resist this infection," Prasad said.
He noted that the current vaccine will still be effectual. Moreover, the capital was better equipped and better prepared to thwart the spread of the highly contagious virus.
"There was a delay in the arrival of test reports during the first wave because diagnostic facilities were limited. Now, we have five private laboratories which can carry out the tests. Moreover, treatment is now available in private hospitals also," Prasad assured.
