Pune: With 11 swine flu deaths and 260 cases in all, Pune has become the epicentre of the outbreak this season. The virus has spread to eight other states including Andhra Pradesh which has reported nine deaths, maximum numbers after Pune.
Pune has once again earned the dubious distinction of being the swine flu capital of the country. Nonetheless, for most people, the disease remains a mild illness.
Three days ago, 27-year-old Amruta was diagnosed H1N1 positive. She is now in Pune's Naidu hospital, a centre ear-marked for Swine flu treatment but not getting timely medical attention has led a deterioration of her condition. She says her swine flu symptoms were like regular influenza.
Getting medical treatment in time is critical. Especially as people with underlying health complications run a great risk. 48-year-old Anjana Shetty - who had severe diabetes - succumbed to H1N1 in the hospital on Thursday.
Medical Suprintendent, Jehangir Hospital, Pune Dr Manisha Bobade, on Anjana's condition said, "She was being treated for three weeks for regular flu. She came in very compensated state in our hospital and had uncontrollable diabetes."
The big question remains, why is Pune the worst hit city for swine flu. Back in 2009, it recorded the first H1N1 death in the country and had the second highest number of casualties, during the pandemic.
"We are studying that at the moment. The corporation also seems to be asking this, it is most probably the climate, not hot, not cold, which makes it conducive for the virus. Also, the NIV is situated in Pune, so more and more cases are coming to light, even from near by areas," Bobade said.
With most States reporting the spread of swine flu, clearly, it doesn't look like a local outbreak anymore. But doctors insist there is no need to panic just yet, in no way can H1N1 be as virulent as in 2009. But if you have any flu like symptoms, get medical help immediately.
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Swine influenza (also called H1N1 flu, swine flu, hog flu, and pig flu) is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus (SIV) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs. ...
Influenza A(H1N1) virus is a subtype of influenzavirus A and the most common cause of influenza (flu) in humans. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a large fraction of all se ...
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