MUMBAI: The flu has claimed 37 lives in the state this year, public health department recently revealed in a report. Among districts, Nagpur has seen maximum fatalities at 18, followed by Kolhapur and Pune. Despite Mumbai documenting 1,900 confirmed influenza caseshighest in state, no deaths were reported.
The state has systematically compiled data on suspected and confirmed influenza cases this year with all cases presenting with symptoms of fever, cough, cold, sore throat, and pneumonia at the government-run rural, district hospitals, medical colleges and private hospitals are being recorded.As per the data, nearly 1.6 million people, approximately 1.3% of the state’s population, have sought treatment for flu since January. Out of the tested cases, 3,218 were confirmed with H1N1 (swine flu) and H3N2 types of influenza A.
Data shows that H3N2 caused more infections with 2,035 confirmed cases compared to 1,183 cases of H1N1 (swine flu). However, swine flu claimed 29 lives, constituting 78% of confirmed flu deaths. H3N2 resulted in eight deaths. A state official said the actual burden of flu cases and deaths will be higher because the recorded figures only account for those who got tested. “In majority of flu cases, patients tend to self-medicate, see a local physician, or recover without intervention,” the official said. Testing for flu cases is limited, as only individuals meeting specific criteria are recommended to undergo testing.
The state has not thoroughly investigated the reasons behind the disparity in reported deaths among districts. For instance, Nagpur has reported 81 confirmed cases but 18 deaths, prompting another state official to suspect a reporting bias. Kolhapur recorded second-highest deaths at six, while Pune reported 426 cases and four deaths. Satara reported three deaths, Akola two, and Nasik and Ahmednagar reported one influenza death each.
Dr Sushant Meshram, head of pulmonary medicine department at Nagpur’s Government Medical College, said regional factors encompassing temperature, pollution, population to climatic conditions play a role in disparities in transmission in different areas. A physician from Sion Hospital said, “In public hospitals, testing is restricted to patients who are either in a serious condition or haven’t responded to standard treatment. In the private sector, however, there may be a more liberal extension of flu panel testing.”
The state has systematically compiled data on suspected and confirmed influenza cases this year with all cases presenting with symptoms of fever, cough, cold, sore throat, and pneumonia at the government-run rural, district hospitals, medical colleges and private hospitals are being recorded.As per the data, nearly 1.6 million people, approximately 1.3% of the state’s population, have sought treatment for flu since January. Out of the tested cases, 3,218 were confirmed with H1N1 (swine flu) and H3N2 types of influenza A.
Data shows that H3N2 caused more infections with 2,035 confirmed cases compared to 1,183 cases of H1N1 (swine flu). However, swine flu claimed 29 lives, constituting 78% of confirmed flu deaths. H3N2 resulted in eight deaths. A state official said the actual burden of flu cases and deaths will be higher because the recorded figures only account for those who got tested. “In majority of flu cases, patients tend to self-medicate, see a local physician, or recover without intervention,” the official said. Testing for flu cases is limited, as only individuals meeting specific criteria are recommended to undergo testing.
The state has not thoroughly investigated the reasons behind the disparity in reported deaths among districts. For instance, Nagpur has reported 81 confirmed cases but 18 deaths, prompting another state official to suspect a reporting bias. Kolhapur recorded second-highest deaths at six, while Pune reported 426 cases and four deaths. Satara reported three deaths, Akola two, and Nasik and Ahmednagar reported one influenza death each.
Dr Sushant Meshram, head of pulmonary medicine department at Nagpur’s Government Medical College, said regional factors encompassing temperature, pollution, population to climatic conditions play a role in disparities in transmission in different areas. A physician from Sion Hospital said, “In public hospitals, testing is restricted to patients who are either in a serious condition or haven’t responded to standard treatment. In the private sector, however, there may be a more liberal extension of flu panel testing.”
