Swine flu deaths reached 30 in Gujarat this week. By 30 September, 786 people have tested positive for the virus in the state while 30 deaths have been reported.
Rajasthan also recorded 164 deaths due to swine flu till September this year, the highest in the country, according to official data. As against the total of 786 cases of positive tests in Gujarat, 1,652 cases have been reported in Rajasthan and 1,167 in Maharashtra, reportedly.
H1N1, or swine flu as it’s commonly called, hit the country in massive proportions last year. And it made an appearance again this September, even before the winter months set in.
In just a few days of September, 52 cases and 6 deaths had been reported in Pune and 22 cases and 4 deaths in Ahmedabad. Two fresh cases of swine flu had also come to light as two siblings, aged five and six years, in Greater Noida, were found to test positive. The total number of cases in the district has reached three now.
Last year, more than 18,000 cases and at least 871 deaths were reported. From Maharashtra to Uttar Pradesh and from Tamil Nadu to Kerala, the spread of the virus was countrywide.
As cases increase by the day, experts have said this unseasonal strike of the virus may be because of a mutation which is making it flourish in the current environmental conditions.
Should you be worried? Dr Suranjit Chatterjee from Apollo Hospitals explains the situation and tells you what to do and what not to do.
He says if proper precautions are taken, there is no need to panic and the situation can be controlled easily.
The increase in the number of cases being reported may be due to better facilities available for testing and increased awareness among the masses, says Dr Chatterjee. The deaths, however, happen when the patient is late in approaching the doctor. He explains that treatment is effective when the disease is caught early.
Here are the symptoms that you should pay attention to and precautions to be taken.
Runny nose, sneezing, blocked nose, cough, sore throat, fever, headache and bodyache are all symptoms of swine flu. The infected person should cover the mouth and nose so that they don’t spread the virus. Wash your hands and cover your face in public to save yourself from coming in contact with the virus.
So, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, even if they’re mild, visit a doctor and keep yourself protected.
Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam
He says if proper precautions are taken, there is no need to panic and the situation can be controlled easily.
The increase in the number of cases being reported may be due to better facilities available for testing and increased awareness among the masses, says Dr Chatterjee. The deaths, however, happen when the patient is late in approaching the doctor. He explains that treatment is effective when the disease is caught early.
Here are the symptoms that you should pay attention to and precautions to be taken.
Runny nose, sneezing, blocked nose, cough, sore throat, fever, headache and bodyache are all symptoms of swine flu. The infected person should cover the mouth and nose so that they don’t spread the virus. Wash your hands and cover your face in public to save yourself from coming in contact with the virus.
So, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, even if they’re mild, visit a doctor and keep yourself protected.
Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam
(We all love to express ourselves, but how often do we do it in our mother tongue? Here's your chance! This Independence Day, khul ke bol with BOL – Love your Bhasha. Sing, write, perform, spew poetry – whatever you like – in your mother tongue. Send us your BOL at bol@thequint.com or WhatsApp it to 9910181818.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)