As per reports, last year, 937 cases of swine flu were reported in the country leading to 238 deaths.
The first month of this year has already witnessed 191 deaths from swine flu. At the same time, the total number of cases reported in January stood at 2,038.
According to the health ministry data, Rajasthan tops the chart with 49 death cases out of reported 205 cases followed by Gujarat where 309 persons contracted swine flu with the virus claiming 38 lives while Telangana recorded 629 cases with 34 deaths. 73 cases have been noted in Maharasthra with 22 deaths.
Tamil Nadu witnessed 93 cases with seven lives claimed by the disease while Madhya Pradesh and Haryana reported 49 and 57 cases with the death toll in these states standing at 17 and eight, respectively. Andhra Pradesh reported 33 cases, leading to four deaths.
Union govt responds but blames states for mess
Reiterating that the present spurt is seasonal, the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mr JP Nadda on February 03, 2015 assured that all necessary assistance and support is being provided to the states to manage the situation. He informed that he has been in constant touch with chief ministers and health ministers of the affected states on the issue.
"A 24*7 Outbreak Monitoring Cell of National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) is attending to public queries on H1N1 to keep them informed and to dispel fears and apprehensions, if any," claimed the minister.
The health minister informed that the ministry has deputed senior level public health teams to Telangana and Rajasthan to assess the situation and assist the states in managing the current spurt in cases. The NCDC, Delhi through Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the state units have enhanced the surveillance for influenza like illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI). They are also providing laboratory support in terms of testing, quality assurance, guidance, providing viral transport mediums and diagnostic reagents.
While the affected states have adequate stock of the drug Oseltamivir, the health ministry also has sufficient stock of the medicine and Personal Protective Equipments. The central government has been advising the states, from time to time, to build capacity to manage the seasonal influenza. The states have been given guidance on risk categorization of patients and clinical case management. The Health Ministry and the states have also initiated awareness campaigns through print and visual media to educate and inform the public.
