H1N1 flu effectively under control

PUDUCHERRY: Since the first case of A (H1N1) influenza surfaced in August, Puducherry has recorded a total of 116 positive cases, including those from the neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu. However, continuous monitoring measures have “contained the spread of infection” within Puducherry, resulting in zero deaths.

Data available with the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP), Puducherry, revealed that there were 18 cases of A (H1N1) influenza in August.

The month of September saw 24 positive cases, and October registered the highest number of cases, till now, at 38.

There were 18 positive cases each in November and December. A total of 569 persons were screened, of which samples of 522 were tested. Four persons who tested positive had a travel history to H1N1-notified countries (imported cases), according to IDSP.

Officials said that persons who tested positive for H1N1 were from Puducherry and neighbouring places of Tamil Nadu such as Cuddalore, Villupuram, Vadalur, Tiruvannamalai and Kancheepuram.

“There has been continuous monitoring effort and epidemiological works done in Puducherry. If there are any positive cases, the staff of Health Department ensures that the patient is admitted to hospital or quarantined at home. We advice the patient not to go out until the infection comes down. All measures are being taken to contain the spread of infection, even within the family of the positive person,” said an official.

Though the trend cannot be denoted as downward, officials said the H1N1 situation in Puducherry has been “effectively under control.”

“This is evident from the fact that there have been no deaths in Puducherry and no formation of indigenous clusters,” the official said.

So far, there have been 12 cases of deaths – all from neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu.

A senior official of the department said that the flu fear among people was gone.

“There has been increased awareness, resulting in lack of fear now. In fact, most of the doctors have been trained to pick up the suspected flu cases,” he said.

The department has adequate stock of Tamiflu and most of the positive cases are being quarantined at home, he said, adding, “The World Health Organisation has predicted that one-third of the world’s population will be exposed to the flu in the next two to three years.”