One of the top monsoon diseases this year is swine flu as it is spreading fast in India especially in Maharashtra. As per Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mumbai is seeing an average of 11 cases daily making the tally to 80 in the first week of August. The total number of H1N1 cases in the month of July were 105.
Swine influenza is a flu caused by the H1N1 influenza strain. This was primarily found in pigs and hence got the name swine flu. Increasing cases of swine flu are raising concerns amid covid, monkeypox and dengue outbreaks. Besides, cases of malaria and gastroenteritis are also rising. The health authorities of the Maharashtra capital are alarmed and monitoring the situation.
One of the primary reasons for the swine flu outbreak in Maharashtra is weather fluctuations. It is unpredictable and mostly humid, which increases transmission rates. The most populated areas of Mumbai are the most affected by swine flu accounting for more than 50% of the total cases. As per BMC officials, most of the swine flu patients have mild flu-like symptoms such as cough and sore throat. Confirmed cases are given H1N1 drugs to manage symptoms and curb further spread.
Also Read: How to Differentiate Between COVID, Seasonal Flu And Swine Flu?
Four Year-Old Girl Dies of Swine Flu
A four year old girl was admitted to the hospital after experiencing a cough and cold. She developed pneumonia and her condition worsened as her lungs failed leading to death. However, authorities have not confirmed her death completely due to swine flu. They are suspecting pneumonia and lung failure to be the primary reasons for developing complications.
Symptoms of swine flu
There are multiple strains of swine influenza and the dominant strain keeps on changing. Also, all the strains are equally infectious and can be life-threatening in people with comorbidities. Elderly and patients with existing chronic illnesses are prone to developing complications and may require immediate intensive care for swine flu treatment.
Also Read: Tips You Must Follow To Prevent Swine Flu
Some of the potential symptoms of swine influenza are high fever, sore throat, cough and exhaustion. These are the same as mosquito-borne illnesses and COVID-19. The one distinct symptom of swine flu is respiratory issues. When swine flu gets severe, one is highly likely to experience upper respiratory tract infections. Doctors advise people to not ignore it if these symptoms persist for more than three days. It is best to get yourself tested for covid, swine flu, dengue, and malaria.
As per health experts, one of the biggest challenges is that swine flu, covid-19 and dengue have similar symptoms. People are unable to identify the symptoms and hence, there is delay in treatment.
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