5 more succumb to swine flu death toll reaches 48

  • | Sunday | 20th January, 2019

On Saturday, two persons each in Jodhpur and Udaipur died of swine flu while one person died in Barmer. Other districts such as Udaipur, Alwar, Sikar, Pali and Barmer have also reported swine flu cases frequently in 2019 so far. But, we are continuously keeping a watch and have sent samples of swine flu patients of ongoing outbreak,” said Dr Ravi Prakash Mathur, additional director (rural health), health department. Jaipur: With five more swine flu deaths on Saturday taking the total toll to 48 in 19 days, the state is taking help of National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune to check if the swine flu virus has become more virulent in the state. The health department is checking if there is different strain of virus, which is taking toll on health of the people.“We are regularly sending swab samples to NIV, Pune.

Jaipur: With five more swine flu deaths on Saturday taking the total toll to 48 in 19 days, the state is taking help of National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune to check if the swine flu virus has become more virulent in the state. On Saturday, two persons each in Jodhpur and Udaipur died of swine flu while one person died in Barmer. While 74 persons tested positive for the disease taking total positive cases to 1,173.Anticipating that the virus might have mutated and become more virulent this year than in past few years, the health authorities have sent swab samples to National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. “In recent outbreak, it needs to be checked if there is any antigenic drift or antigenic shift in the virus, which is making it more virulent this year than it was in past few years,” said a health department official. With the help of NIV, Pune, the state will check if the virus has mutated in the state.During 2017 outbreak, the NIV had confirmed that the swine flu virus circulating was of Michigan strain, earlier it was California strain taking toll on the health of the people. Now, the Centre has issued guidelines to the state mentioning that studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research network have shown that there is co-circulation of the Victoria and Yamagata lineages of Influenza B in the country.It is because of the fact that different lineages are co-circulating in the country, the Centre has recommended quadrivalent vaccine which should have Michigan like virus, Singapore like virus, Phuket-like virus (Yamagata lineage) and Brisbane like virus (Victoria lineage).However, with beginning of New year, the state has reported increased number of cases, especially in Jodhpur and Jaipur. Other districts such as Udaipur, Alwar, Sikar, Pali and Barmer have also reported swine flu cases frequently in 2019 so far. The health department is checking if there is different strain of virus, which is taking toll on health of the people.“We are regularly sending swab samples to NIV, Pune. However, we have not received any information which shows that the virus has mutated here. It is same Michigan strain of virus which is circulating. But, we are continuously keeping a watch and have sent samples of swine flu patients of ongoing outbreak,” said Dr Ravi Prakash Mathur, additional director (rural health), health department.

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