During the past week, less than 5,000 people were affected by swine flu. The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, said in a statement, “Levels of pandemic ‘flu are currently very low, virtually concluding the second wave of the infection in this country.”
He further informed that the hospitals still have 211 patients of swine flu in England out of which 62 are in critical beds. He also says that for most people it has been a serious illness but children and younger adults developed serious conditions.
In England alone, there have been 28 more swine flu deaths since the last set of figures were announced, making the total figure go up to 279. The total number of deaths across UK amount to
390.
Even children and pregnant women have died with swine flu. This includes 21 deaths in children below five years of age and 12 pregnant women. Adults above the age of 65 were less than a fifth of the totalswine flu deaths.
The reason for fewer deaths, in adults above 65 years of age, is that they develop immunity to previous pandemics during their lives.
People who died of swine flu in England had a moderate or severe underlying health condition.
Under the swine flu vaccination programme in England, 3.7 million jabs have been given to priority groups. These groups included 132,000 pregnant women and 214,000 healthy children in the new six months to five year old group.
Swine flu vaccine in four to seven months
New Delhi: India is at the forefront of developing a swine flu vaccine that will be available in "four to seven months", the government announced Friday as 96 new infections were reported.
Speaking to reporters here Friday, union Health Secretary Naresh Dayal said: "The process has been already set in motion and India is at the forefront of developing a vaccine."
"But the vaccine will be available by four to seven months from now," he added.
There is no known vaccine so far to tackle the virus that has infected over 700 people in the country so far.
Dayal said the World Health Organisation had given the "seed stock" of the influenza A (H1N1) virus to India.
The seed stock is the cultured virus, which has the highest vaccine immunity and is commonly present in majority of the affected cases. If the vaccine is developed from the seed virus then it is likely to be effective for other strains.
In India, three pharmaceutical companies - Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech and Panacea Biotech - are working on developing the vaccine.
The WHO is already collaborating with the Serum Institute of India for developing a seasonal flu vaccine.
Dayal said Serum Institute of India has made a lot of progress and started animal testing of the vaccine.
No need to panic over swine flu: Govt
As panic gripped people in the metros over swine flu and a record 96 new cases came up, the Indian government Friday assured that it was equipped to tackle the virus that has killed one and infected over 700 people so far in the country.
The government also announced a slew of steps to tackle the fast-spreading flu, including decentralising the drug supply and allowing accredited private laboratories to conduct the tests.
Union Health Secretary Naresh Dayal said the government is decentralising the availability of the Tamiflu drug in the country so that there is no paucity and is ready to allow accredited private laboratories to conduct the test to detect the virus provided they have the facilities.
"A lot of panic has been created in the last two days, especially since the death of the girl in Pune. There is no cause for people to go into panic mode," Dayal told a press conference here.
Rida Shaikh, 14, died in Pune Monday of swine flu, and health officials blamed the death to "delayed treatment".
Speaking to reporters here Friday, union Health Secretary Naresh Dayal said: "The process has been already set in motion and India is at the forefront of developing a vaccine."
"But the vaccine will be available by four to seven months from now," he added.
There is no known vaccine so far to tackle the virus that has infected over 700 people in the country so far.
Dayal said the World Health Organisation had given the "seed stock" of the influenza A (H1N1) virus to India.
The seed stock is the cultured virus, which has the highest vaccine immunity and is commonly present in majority of the affected cases. If the vaccine is developed from the seed virus then it is likely to be effective for other strains.
In India, three pharmaceutical companies - Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech and Panacea Biotech - are working on developing the vaccine.
The WHO is already collaborating with the Serum Institute of India for developing a seasonal flu vaccine.
Dayal said Serum Institute of India has made a lot of progress and started animal testing of the vaccine.
No need to panic over swine flu: Govt
As panic gripped people in the metros over swine flu and a record 96 new cases came up, the Indian government Friday assured that it was equipped to tackle the virus that has killed one and infected over 700 people so far in the country.
The government also announced a slew of steps to tackle the fast-spreading flu, including decentralising the drug supply and allowing accredited private laboratories to conduct the tests.
Union Health Secretary Naresh Dayal said the government is decentralising the availability of the Tamiflu drug in the country so that there is no paucity and is ready to allow accredited private laboratories to conduct the test to detect the virus provided they have the facilities.
"A lot of panic has been created in the last two days, especially since the death of the girl in Pune. There is no cause for people to go into panic mode," Dayal told a press conference here.
Rida Shaikh, 14, died in Pune Monday of swine flu, and health officials blamed the death to "delayed treatment".
Schoolchildren In Some areas Had Swine Flu
Estimates were based on the numbers of people seeing their GP or contacting the flu line with symptoms but this did not capture the cases which were mild or had no symptoms, the Health Protection Agency experts said.
In an article published online in The Lancet medical journal Prof Elizabeth Miller and colleagues described how blood samples taken before and after the swine flu outbreak has found many more people had the disease.
Before the outbreak only 1.8 per cent of children aged up to four years had any immunity against H1N1 rising to almost a third of people over 80 who were probably exposed to very similar viruses in previous pandemics.
But in August and September the proportion of children aged up to four with H1N1 antibodies rose to one fifth in London and the West Midlands. Almost half of children aged between five and 14 had antibodies, they said.
Prof Miller wrote: “Rates of infection with 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza in the first wave were greatest in children younger than 15 years of age, with an estimated 45 per cent of schoolchildren aged five to 14 years being infected in high incidence regions.
"This finding is consistent with the high level of susceptibility in children and the increased potential for transmission that occurs within schools. We also showed substantial differences between regions in the extent of infection during the first wave.
“This serological study shows the true extent of H1N1 infection in the initial wave of the pandemic in England in 2009. Its findings should be applicable to other countries that have experienced a similar first wave.”
In a separate study it was found that because so many children were infected in the first wave that by the time the second wave hit, after the schools reopened in September, there was little impact the vaccine could make on the spread of the disease.
This supports the approach taken by government to vaccinate people at risk of complications if they contracted swine flu rather than a blanket programme aimed at slowing the spread of the disease.
Prof Miller added “This model, together with the serological data, would suggest that by the time vaccine became available in the UK in late October, 2009, the potential for mitigating the overall effect of the second wave by vaccination was limited.
“Around one child in every three was infected with 2009 pandemic H1N1 in the first wave of infection in regions with a high incidence, ten times more than estimated from clinical surveillance. Pre-existing antibody in older age groups protects against infection. Children have an important role in transmission of influenza and would be a key target group for vaccination both for their protection and for the protection of others through herd immunity.”
In an article published online in The Lancet medical journal Prof Elizabeth Miller and colleagues described how blood samples taken before and after the swine flu outbreak has found many more people had the disease.
Before the outbreak only 1.8 per cent of children aged up to four years had any immunity against H1N1 rising to almost a third of people over 80 who were probably exposed to very similar viruses in previous pandemics.
But in August and September the proportion of children aged up to four with H1N1 antibodies rose to one fifth in London and the West Midlands. Almost half of children aged between five and 14 had antibodies, they said.
Prof Miller wrote: “Rates of infection with 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza in the first wave were greatest in children younger than 15 years of age, with an estimated 45 per cent of schoolchildren aged five to 14 years being infected in high incidence regions.
"This finding is consistent with the high level of susceptibility in children and the increased potential for transmission that occurs within schools. We also showed substantial differences between regions in the extent of infection during the first wave.
“This serological study shows the true extent of H1N1 infection in the initial wave of the pandemic in England in 2009. Its findings should be applicable to other countries that have experienced a similar first wave.”
In a separate study it was found that because so many children were infected in the first wave that by the time the second wave hit, after the schools reopened in September, there was little impact the vaccine could make on the spread of the disease.
This supports the approach taken by government to vaccinate people at risk of complications if they contracted swine flu rather than a blanket programme aimed at slowing the spread of the disease.
Prof Miller added “This model, together with the serological data, would suggest that by the time vaccine became available in the UK in late October, 2009, the potential for mitigating the overall effect of the second wave by vaccination was limited.
“Around one child in every three was infected with 2009 pandemic H1N1 in the first wave of infection in regions with a high incidence, ten times more than estimated from clinical surveillance. Pre-existing antibody in older age groups protects against infection. Children have an important role in transmission of influenza and would be a key target group for vaccination both for their protection and for the protection of others through herd immunity.”
12 more suspected H1N1 cases in Mumbai
Mumbai: Twelve suspected swine flu patients were today quarantined at the civic body-run Kasturba Hospital here following symptoms of H1N1 as panicked citizens queued up outside the hospital for check up. Outside the Kasturba Hospital in South Mumbai, which is the referral hospital to quarantine swine flu cases, a large number of people gathered since morning.
The hospital authorities counselled them, checked all the patients who came with fever or throat infection and asked them to take rest and not to panic. "After the Maharashtra government advised yesterday that people with suspected H1N1 virus infection should go to the government specified hospital and not to any private hospital, today at least 50 people came to our hospital for check-up for various symptoms," Dr Umesh Aigel, Superintendent of the hospital told PTI. "We are giving counseling to those who came just for a check-up as they do want to take any chance with their kin having fever or any throat infections," he said.
"We checked all of them and send them back," he said. 16 more beds were arranged at the hospital to cope with the additional rush, the official said.
Currently three confirmed flu patients are undergoing treatment in the hospital with Tamiflu and antibiotics, he added.
The hospital authorities counselled them, checked all the patients who came with fever or throat infection and asked them to take rest and not to panic. "After the Maharashtra government advised yesterday that people with suspected H1N1 virus infection should go to the government specified hospital and not to any private hospital, today at least 50 people came to our hospital for check-up for various symptoms," Dr Umesh Aigel, Superintendent of the hospital told PTI. "We are giving counseling to those who came just for a check-up as they do want to take any chance with their kin having fever or any throat infections," he said.
"We checked all of them and send them back," he said. 16 more beds were arranged at the hospital to cope with the additional rush, the official said.
Currently three confirmed flu patients are undergoing treatment in the hospital with Tamiflu and antibiotics, he added.
swine flu death in pandemic Pune
Pune, Aug 3 (IANS) Days after Pune was declared a pandemic city for swine flu, a 14-year-old girl succumbed to the virus there Monday - making it India’s first death due to influenza A(H1N1). The girl was suffering from the flu for over a fortnight and died due to “delayed treatment”, health officials said.
Meanwhile, seven more people tested positive for the flu Monday, taking the total number of cases to 558 in the country. Of these, 470 patients have been discharged after treatment. About 2,479 people have been tested so far.
Confirming news of the death, union Health Secretary Naresh Dayal said in New Delhi that the girl was given anti-flu medicine at a very late stage.
“It appears she was treated late. If she had been treated earlier, she could have been saved,” Dayal told a news channel. “It is a matter of concern,” he added.
“The deceased patient, Riya Shaikh, had been admitted to Jehangir Hospital, a private hospital, July 21. As per preliminary information, she passed away this evening,” a health official in Pune told IANS.
Pune, which has already become the country’s swine-flu capital, notched 102 patients Monday, of whom 86 are children, mostly school students, he said.
The girl had consulted a general practitioner when she first reported flu-like symptoms - sore throat, runny nose, headache - on July 21. When her condition improved, she joined school on July 23.
“She again developed fever on July 25, for which she consulted another private practitioner. Her fever continued and she was admitted to a private nursing home in Pune July 27,” according to a health ministry statement.
Her condition worsened and she was shifted to the ICU and put on the ventilator on July 29. “The patient’s lung aspirate was sent to the NIV (National Institute of Virology) on July 31 and was tested positive for swine flu.”
She was put on Oseltamivir or Tamiflu on July 30. “Her condition deteriorated again with multi-system involvement and she expired on the evening of August 3,” the statement said.
Health officials are flummoxed how a serious patient of H1N1 could remain under treatment in a private hospital and are inquiring whether the case was notified to the authorities or not, especially since Pune had been declared a ‘pandemic’ city last month.
Dilip Bhan, divisional commissioner of Pune, maintained: “We were not aware of the patient. She had taken private treatment. People should not go to private hospitals and instead get themselves admitted to government hospitals.”
“After the death we have all become very conscious and alert. We are taking every precautionary measure to ensure that no more deaths take place,” he added
The health ministry said the Pune hospital staff, including three doctors and a nurse, who had treated the girl and had developed respiratory symptoms were being treated with Oseltamivir.
“About 85 other hospital contacts have been put on prophylaxis, while 31 contacts, including 11 family contacts, have also been put on chemoprophylaxis,” it added.
Dayal said they have already issued guidelines regarding swine flu to schools as it is mostly affecting children.
Asked if the government has issued any guidelines of closing down the schools, he said: “Guidelines are very clear. If a child is suffering from swine flu virus he should not come to school and get himself isolated. We have not recommended closing down of schools.”
He said they are monitoring the situation and would take action and review the situation following the girl’s death.
Dayal also said the government has enough stock of anti-flu medicines and if the need arose they would be able to acquire more. Since Tamiflu is available only in select government hospitals, Dayal said the government would review the situation.
Most of the cases are being reported from the metros as the infected people were returning from foreign jaunts.
“(More cases) will happen,” he said, adding that at the time people return to India they do not exhibit symptoms of the flu, which has an incubation period of seven-10 days. “The symptoms develop later,” Dayal said.
He added that one third of the people who test positive for swine flu are those identified at the entry point, while the rest are cases who report themselves later.
“The infection is largely from abroad and is mainly confined to cities. No case has been reported from rural areas,” he added.
Dayal stressed that testing for swine flu can’t be done in private hospitals.
“Testing can’t be done in every hospital lab. Certain care has to be taken while taking samples. The doctor or the technician has to wear protective gear. If it is not taken carefully, more people could be infected,” he added.
Asked if India has handled the swine flu cases properly, he said: “We have handled it better than other countries. We have only one death from the virus.”
On Monday, seven positive cases were reported in the country - Delhi (2), Pune (3), Chennai (1) and Ahmedabad (1).
Health officials said an 11-year-old boy in Delhi contracted the virus from another person.
Pune continued to report swine flu, with three new cases, including two children. They contracted the virus in school.
In Chennai, an eight-year-old boy, who had arrived from Muscat on July 29, tested positive.
In Ahmedabad, a 27 year-old woman doctor who was on airport screening duty, reported with flu-like symptoms on July 30.
In Maharashtra, the number of cases rose to 147 Monday - with 102 in Pune, 20 in Mumbai, 23 in the hill-station of Panchgani, and two in Thane.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) till July 27, about 134,503 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) have been reported. About 816 deaths have been reported, mostly from Mexico and the US.
Meanwhile, seven more people tested positive for the flu Monday, taking the total number of cases to 558 in the country. Of these, 470 patients have been discharged after treatment. About 2,479 people have been tested so far.
Confirming news of the death, union Health Secretary Naresh Dayal said in New Delhi that the girl was given anti-flu medicine at a very late stage.
“It appears she was treated late. If she had been treated earlier, she could have been saved,” Dayal told a news channel. “It is a matter of concern,” he added.
“The deceased patient, Riya Shaikh, had been admitted to Jehangir Hospital, a private hospital, July 21. As per preliminary information, she passed away this evening,” a health official in Pune told IANS.
Pune, which has already become the country’s swine-flu capital, notched 102 patients Monday, of whom 86 are children, mostly school students, he said.
The girl had consulted a general practitioner when she first reported flu-like symptoms - sore throat, runny nose, headache - on July 21. When her condition improved, she joined school on July 23.
“She again developed fever on July 25, for which she consulted another private practitioner. Her fever continued and she was admitted to a private nursing home in Pune July 27,” according to a health ministry statement.
Her condition worsened and she was shifted to the ICU and put on the ventilator on July 29. “The patient’s lung aspirate was sent to the NIV (National Institute of Virology) on July 31 and was tested positive for swine flu.”
She was put on Oseltamivir or Tamiflu on July 30. “Her condition deteriorated again with multi-system involvement and she expired on the evening of August 3,” the statement said.
Health officials are flummoxed how a serious patient of H1N1 could remain under treatment in a private hospital and are inquiring whether the case was notified to the authorities or not, especially since Pune had been declared a ‘pandemic’ city last month.
Dilip Bhan, divisional commissioner of Pune, maintained: “We were not aware of the patient. She had taken private treatment. People should not go to private hospitals and instead get themselves admitted to government hospitals.”
“After the death we have all become very conscious and alert. We are taking every precautionary measure to ensure that no more deaths take place,” he added
The health ministry said the Pune hospital staff, including three doctors and a nurse, who had treated the girl and had developed respiratory symptoms were being treated with Oseltamivir.
“About 85 other hospital contacts have been put on prophylaxis, while 31 contacts, including 11 family contacts, have also been put on chemoprophylaxis,” it added.
Dayal said they have already issued guidelines regarding swine flu to schools as it is mostly affecting children.
Asked if the government has issued any guidelines of closing down the schools, he said: “Guidelines are very clear. If a child is suffering from swine flu virus he should not come to school and get himself isolated. We have not recommended closing down of schools.”
He said they are monitoring the situation and would take action and review the situation following the girl’s death.
Dayal also said the government has enough stock of anti-flu medicines and if the need arose they would be able to acquire more. Since Tamiflu is available only in select government hospitals, Dayal said the government would review the situation.
Most of the cases are being reported from the metros as the infected people were returning from foreign jaunts.
“(More cases) will happen,” he said, adding that at the time people return to India they do not exhibit symptoms of the flu, which has an incubation period of seven-10 days. “The symptoms develop later,” Dayal said.
He added that one third of the people who test positive for swine flu are those identified at the entry point, while the rest are cases who report themselves later.
“The infection is largely from abroad and is mainly confined to cities. No case has been reported from rural areas,” he added.
Dayal stressed that testing for swine flu can’t be done in private hospitals.
“Testing can’t be done in every hospital lab. Certain care has to be taken while taking samples. The doctor or the technician has to wear protective gear. If it is not taken carefully, more people could be infected,” he added.
Asked if India has handled the swine flu cases properly, he said: “We have handled it better than other countries. We have only one death from the virus.”
On Monday, seven positive cases were reported in the country - Delhi (2), Pune (3), Chennai (1) and Ahmedabad (1).
Health officials said an 11-year-old boy in Delhi contracted the virus from another person.
Pune continued to report swine flu, with three new cases, including two children. They contracted the virus in school.
In Chennai, an eight-year-old boy, who had arrived from Muscat on July 29, tested positive.
In Ahmedabad, a 27 year-old woman doctor who was on airport screening duty, reported with flu-like symptoms on July 30.
In Maharashtra, the number of cases rose to 147 Monday - with 102 in Pune, 20 in Mumbai, 23 in the hill-station of Panchgani, and two in Thane.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) till July 27, about 134,503 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) have been reported. About 816 deaths have been reported, mostly from Mexico and the US.
