KOLKATA: Two children down with swine flu are battling for life in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at a city hospital. While both are on ventilation, doctors said condition of one was particularly critical. Virologists are baffled at the prevalence of H1N1 virus now, given it usually retreats by August.Hooghly’s eight-and-a-half-year old Sritama Roy was rushed to Institute of Child Health on Tuesday with severe respiratory distress and fever . Right since her admission, she has been on ventilation. Reports confirming H1N1 reached the hospital on Thursday. “The girl was in a very serious condition when she was brought in and she was put on ventilation right away. Her condition is extremely critical,” said Dr Prabhas Prasun Giri, PICU in-charge at ICH.The other child, five-and-a-halfyear-old Barsha Biswas, a resident of Nadia was admitted to ICH a week ago. Like Sritama, Barsha, too, was gasping for breath when her parents hospitalized her, and she was also immediately put on ventilation. Tests have confirmed H1N1.“Last year, we had about 18 serious cases of H1N1. This year, when we were hoping that swine flu was over and that no children had been affected, these two kids were brought in. Both of them are very ill,” Giri said.The season for swine flu usually lasts from May to August. According to virologists, the H1N1virus thrives during the monsoon , peaking by July. It starts retreating by August-end. “Most swine flu cases are reported during the rains. But stray cases happen at any time, even winter,” said Dr Amiya Hati, former director, Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine.

Stay updated with all the Kolkata Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.