With 1,000 deaths, is India facing a swine flu epidemic?
The swine flu situation in India is nearing an epidemic. In the last eight months, as many as 1,094 deaths have been reported. This is a fourfold increase than the number of fatalities recorded in the same period last year. The total number of recorded cases is 22,186. Last week was particularly bad with 342 reported deaths. The situation is the worst in Maharashtra (437).
What is swine flu?
Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by an influenza type A virus called H1N1. It originated in pigs, that's why the term 'swine' flu. The virus was first reported in Mexico in 2009 and has spread around the world fast. It spreads by sneezing or coughing. Pregnant women, children under five and elderly above 65, and those with respiratory conditions are the most vulnerable.
What seemed better in 2016 is getting worse again
In 2009-10, India witnessed the worst outbreak of the disease till now, with 50,000 reported cases and over 2,700 deaths. Two years ago, an outbreak killed over 1,900, but in 2016 the number dipped to 265. 1,786 cases were reported. Things seem to be getting worse again. However, according to Dr Sanjay Gururaj, "The official numbers are possibly just the tip of the iceberg."
