State sees spike in H1N1 cases

Influenza A (H1N1) has been slowly claiming more lives in the State than usual, even though the infection normally peaks during monsoon.

The cumulative figures for H1N1 for the year shows that over 315 cases and 23 deaths, including six ante and post natal cases, have been reported.

Public health experts say that when a virus becomes established in the community, it is not unusual to find influenza activity spiking every other year and that it is the robustness of the health system’s surveillance and monitoring activities which actually makes all the difference between “cases” becoming “deaths.”

G. Arun Kumar, the head of the Manipal Virus Research Centre (MVRC), says that MVRC has been engaged in systematic surveillance of the influenza viruses since 2010 and it has always shown slightly increased activity during January-February.

Effective drug

“Oseltamivir is a very potent drug against influenza virus but it is most effective when it is administered during the early part of the illness. The number of deaths went up this season probably because of the delay in identifying the disease and administering the drug. Instead of sending everyone for confirmatory testing in labs, clinicians just need to follow the ABC guidelines for treatment issued by the Health Ministry,’’ Dr. Arun Kumar says.

Kerala has been doing good by sticking to its policy of testing for surveillance purposes only, says Amar Fettle, State nodal officer for H1N1. The State has since January, tested some 1,166 samples from all districts (public sector alone) and has reported 315 cases. “All Disease Surveillance Officers have been given standing instructions to report on any unusual patterns in influenza-like illnesses or severe acute respiratory infections. H1N1 has been endemic here since 2010 and clinicians need to be alert to its possibility when they see patients with respiratory illnesses,” he says.

The cumulative figures for H1N1 for the year shows over 315 cases and 23 deaths.