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  Metros   Mumbai  17 Oct 2018  State gears up to battle looming threat of H1N1

State gears up to battle looming threat of H1N1

THE ASIAN AGE.
Published : Oct 17, 2018, 2:10 am IST
Updated : Oct 17, 2018, 2:10 am IST

So far, the city has reported 13 cases but no deaths.

Last year, from January to October, 995 cases were reported in the city along with 18 deaths, stated civic authorities.
 Last year, from January to October, 995 cases were reported in the city along with 18 deaths, stated civic authorities.

Mumbai: Even though the monsoon has withdrawn from the city, it is still facing the menace of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. Additionally, in September, the first case of H1N1 was reported in Mumbai and the threat of swine flu is looming over the state. So far, the city has reported 13 cases but no deaths.

Last year, from January to October, 995 cases were reported in the city along with 18 deaths, stated civic authorities.

Scientists at the Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) have confirmed that the possibility of both influenza viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) has collectively gone up by over 10 per cent.

However, the state’s health minister Dr Deepak Sawant said, “We have already started an awareness campaign.

“We have even advised private practitioners to start patients suffering from fever and cold on Oseltamivir if symptoms do not subside within 24 hours. The department is gearing up a protocol for private doctors to treat swine flu patients.”

Swine flu is a respiratory-tract disease caused by influenza H1N1 viruses. It infects the respiratory tract resulting in barking cough, decreased appetite, headache, body ache, dysentery and nasal secretions.

It can be easily transmitted through the air, skin, saliva and contaminated surfaces.

Tags: h1n1, h3n2