Awareness can check H1N1 spread

The past month has witnessed a sharp spurt in the number of swine flu cases and deaths across the country.

Official data reveals that the H1N1 virus has caused the death of 485 people between January 1 and February 12 and the numbers are rising. Worryingly over 6,000 people have tested positive for the illness

in this period. While Delhi is among the worst hit in terms of cases of swine flu, its death toll is less compared with Rajasthan, for instance. Better treatment facilities and public awareness in the national capital could

be behind this. The present outbreak appears to be deadlier than those in the last couple of years. From a high of 2,700 deaths between May 2009 and December 2010, when a global swine flu pandemic occurred, the number of deaths and cases dropped to 218 and 937 respectively, last year.

Health ministry officials are in the dark over the reasons for the sharp increase in cases this year. It is clear, however, that health authorities were unprepared for the epidemic. Hospitals – private and government-run – are reporting a shortage of testing kits and medicines.

While the government has promised to step up their supply immediately, this does seem to be a case of too little, too late. Better preparedness could have saved many lives as this is a treatable illness if patients receive medical attention early.

Fighting the H1N1 virus is not easy. It spreads easily. Besides, swine flu symptoms are similar to those of other kinds of influenza. Cough and cold, which are common during winter, are among its symptoms. This means that many people with less deadly strains of flu are rushing to hospitals to get themselves tested and treated.

This is putting enormous pressure on our already creaking health infrastructure. Several panic stricken people are reported to be self-medicating with Tamiflu. This is dangerous as it could cause drug resistance.

There could be a problem of over-counting too; in several cases people contracting swine flu have died due to pre-existing illnesses and these are being wrongly included in the swine-flu death toll. Spreading awareness about swine flu, its symptoms and treatment must be an important part of the government’s arsenal in combating the virus.

The government has done well to direct the vaccination of health workers dealing with swine flu patients and other high risk groups. This will reduce their vulnerability to the illness. It could go slow, however, in vaccinating the general public as excessive caution is not the best way to tackle flu.