H1N1 Alert in Uttarakhand: Cases Rise to 49, Five Deaths Reported
Uttarakhand has stepped up its health preparedness after 49 H1N1 cases have been reported in Dehradun since the beginning of August and five infected patients have died.
Health officials said all five people who died were also suffering from other serious health conditions. But the rise in the number of cases has put government and private hospitals on alert.
Of those 49 patients, 34 are from Dehradun, while 15 had come from other districts or states to seek treatment in the city. Health officials said many patients have already recovered and others still require treatment.
Dehradun Hospitals Put On Alert
Health Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey has directed government and private hospitals to be prepared for H1N1 patients.
Hospitals were asked to keep isolation wards operational, provide sufficient supplies of essential medicines and report cases properly.
Doon Medical College Hospital and Coronation Hospital have each reserved 10 beds for swine flu patients. An additional 20-bed isolation ward has also been prepared at Sushila Tiwari Hospital.
Health teams have also stepped up surveillance of areas where cases have been detected. Rapid Response Teams have been deployed to screen and monitor people who may have been exposed to infected patients. The travel and contact history of confirmed cases are also being assessed, officials said.
But other parts of Uttarakhand are also on high alert as well, and people in other parts of Uttarakhand have also been warned to remain vigilant. Hospitals in Nainital have been urged to monitor patients who are showing flu-like symptoms, and hospitals have been advised to keep an eye on patients who have flu-like symptoms in Nainital hospitals. So far no H1N1 case has been reported in Nainital since there is no H1N1 case in the district at the time of the last update.
What are the symptoms of H1N1?
H1N1 is seasonal influenza. Common symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or blocked nose, headache, body aches, tiredness and chills. Some people might also experience vomiting or diarrhoea.
Most seasonal influenza infections are mild and improve on their own. The Indian Council of Medical Research has said the current rise in H1N1 cases is part of the seasonal influenza pattern and there is no evidence of a new H1N1 strain causing the increase.
But some people are at greater risk of complications. Older adults, young children, and people with a history of health problems are especially vulnerable.
People with flu-like symptoms should take sufficient time to rest, stay away from others when ill, and have good hand and respiratory hygiene.
Medical attention becomes especially important if symptoms become severe or worse. Difficulty breathing, chest pain or persistent high fever should not be ignored and may need to be assessed in a timely fashion.
Health professionals also advised people not to take antibiotics or antiviral medicines without medical advice. Antibiotics won’t treat influenza because it is caused by a virus, but antiviral treatment might be initiated in cases of severe illness or at higher risk.
The National Centre for Disease Control continues to monitor and maintain technical guidance for seasonal influenza (H1N1) in India.
The recent acceleration of cases in Dehradun has thus raised the level of alertness in society, but health experts have also recommended being cautious rather than panicking.
Hospitals are preparing isolation beds and health personnel are increasingly monitoring, so that early detection and treatment are made to prevent serious cases and further spread.
The key message for the public is simple: keep an eye on symptoms, practice basic hygiene and seek medical help immediately if breathing difficulty, chest pain or other severe symptoms develop.
