Mumbai Reports 22 New Swine Flu Cases

Mumbai reported 22 new swine flu cases on March 25, the total number of swine flu cases this year in the city has reached that of 2009, when swine flu first hit the city. The World Health Organization declared the swine flu outbreak in 2009 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, labeling it a pandemic.

A total number of 1,497 swine flu cases were recorded in Mumbai in 2009. This year, a total of 1,496 swine flu cases have been recorded in February and March.

Dr Mangala Gomare, chief of epidemiology cell, BMC, said, "In the 2009 pandemic, we saw maximum cases in the monsoon, but this year the situation is different. We have recorded swine flu cases in winter and summer (March)."

According to doctors, swine flu cases will decline as the H1N1 virus cannot survive high temperatures. An average of 40 to 45 new swine flu cases were being reported two weeks back. In the past few days, the average number of swine flu cases has declined to 20 to 25 a day.

Maharashtra has recorded a total of 4,273 H1N1 positive cases with 368 deaths, this year. Now the State is witnessing a decline in number of new swine flu cases.

Dr Om Shrivastav, Director, Infectious Department, Jaslok Hospital, said, " There is definitely a change in the H1N1 virus, which has resulted in the increase in transmission of swine flu. This year, we have seen as many cases as in the whole of 2009, in just two months this year, which is of concern."



Source: Medindia