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Virus expert: Bird flu still pandemic danger, warns against complacency
The 05 Sep. 2010 at 18:26Last newsComments (0)Add a comment
WHO declared the swine flu pandemic over last month. The latest death toll is just over 18,600 - far below the millions that were once predicted.
Hong Kong : A leading virus expert has urged health authorities around the world to stay vigilant even though the recent swine flu pandemic was less deadly than expected, warning that bird flu could spark the next global outbreak.
WHO declared the swine flu pandemic over last month. The latest death toll is just over 18,600 - far below the millions that were once predicted. The head of the global health body has credited good preparation and luck, as the H1N1 swine flu virus didn't mutate as some had feared.
Speaking to reporters at a conference in Hong Kong, researcher Robert Webster warned against complacency and predicted that the next pandemic could be sparked by a virus that spreads from water fowl to pigs and then onto humans - such as the H5N1 strain of bird flu, which has killed 300 people over the past seven years.
Influenza B was behind Moradabad mystery fever
The 05 Sep. 2010 at 15:24Last newsComments (0)Add a comment
LUCKNOW: The riddle of mystery fever in Bhansiya village of Moradabad district of UP has finally been solved. According to the report submitted by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), the infectious fever, which claimed seven lives, was caused by Influenza B virus. The report has confirmed the presence of H1N1 virus in the area.
Confirming the news, chief surveillance officer, integrated disease surveillance programme, UP, Dr Purnima Srivastava said, "we have been communicated about the findings. In the wake of this, health authorities in the Moradabad division have been directed to increase surveillance in their area so that no patient is left untracked.''
To recap, death of seven children following a `mystery' fever in Bhansiya village sent alarm bells ringing late last month. Around 35 children with similar symptoms were hospitalised and the development sent entire health machinery into a tizzy. A committee was constituted by the state government to probe the reason. Later, swab samples of all the affected kids were sent to NICD for a confirmatory test.
The team headed by director, medical care, Dr Shobhnath, had said after preliminary investigation that the deaths were apparently caused by diphtheria. It had recommended that all children in the village be given NDPT shots to avert the recurrence of the disease. A couple of days later, experts from the epidemic control cell, UP, reached the spot to re-expedite the matter. Dr NN Tripathi and Dr AK Awasthi along with others claimed that it was probably a viral infection that caused the trouble.
Incidentally, as the bodies of the children had been disposed by the time the probe team got into action, its job to track down the reason became even more difficult. "Parents of the children who died had gone to private practitioners...we came to know about it a little late,'' Dr Rakesh Saxena, chief medical officer, Moradabad told TOI.
In its report, the team from epidemic control cell had pointed out that malnutrition killed two of the seven children while high grade viral fever `could' have taken toll on others. "Any disease...even simple fever gets fatal for children who are undernourished,'' pointed out Dr Sanjay Niranjan of Indian Paediatric Association.
The reason, explained Dr Awasthi, secondary bacterial infections like tonsillitis and pneumonia spread very fast when a malnourished child is under influence of a virus. "In fact, antibiotic treatment is given to any patient suffering from viral diseases to avert manifestation of secondary infections,'' he added.
Both the committees found that there were some 2,000 children in the village up to the age of five years, most of whom were malnourished. They added that poor personal hygiene and sanitation in the village added to their condition.
89 swine flu deaths in India this week
The 30 Aug. 2010 at 21:13Last newsComments (0)Add a comment
New Delhi, Aug 30, PTI:
Swine flu continued its grip on India with 89 deaths reported from across the country in the week ending August 29.
Maharashtra reported the maximum number of 50 deaths, followed by 14 from Orissa and six each from Gujarat and Delhi. ive deaths were reported from Madhya Pradesh while four were reported from Andhra Pradesh.
A total of 1,247 cases reported during the week. All are indigenous cases. Till date, samples from 1,67,846 people have been tested for swine flu in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country and 39,977 (23.8 per cent) of them have been found positive. The World Health Organisation has officially declared that the swine flu pandemic was over.
Death of children in India put officials on alert
The 28 Aug. 2010 at 18:41Last newsComments (0)Add a comment
Moradabad, Aug 28 : As many as seven deaths of children due to mysterious fever in the last two days in a village of this Uttar Pradesh district has put the health authorities on alert.
The authorities have denied incidence of encephalitis in the village and attributed 'critical viral' fever as the cause of deaths in Bhaisia village near district headquarters.
Earlier on August 25, three children died of 'viral' fever in the same village prompting district authorities to set up a camp in the village beside sounding an alert in adjacent villages as well, the official sources said.
At least 15 other children were admitted to hospital with the same complaint of high fever and lump in throat with some symptoms of secondary infection, the sources said.
Blood samples of affected children have been sent for further investigation, health officials said.
India: Swine flu cases likely to rise
The 27 Aug. 2010 at 23:06Last newsComments (0)Add a comment
KANPUR: With the fluctuating weather conditions, doctors caution against the H1N1 infection as there are chances of it getting more virulent. Health experts say that there will be spurt in swine flu cases. Hence, the masses need to be vigilant if they are suffering from common cold like symptoms.
Chief medical officer (CMO) Ashok Mishra said: "In the coming days, there will sharp increase in the number of positive cases. Testing all the cases is not possible. We have to treat the disease like common flu and strong flu like symptoms should be administered full dose of Tamiflu or Tamivir. The benefit of the anti-viral drug is that it makes illness milder and shorter and may also prevent serious influenza."
The high risk categories are children, elderly, pregnant women, patient with chronic illness, immuno-compromised persons and even those who come late for treatment. "Death is mostly due to respiratory complication. It affects the lungs resulting in viral pneumonia. The virus disrupts the respiratory mechanism by lowering the oxygen level and making the patient dependent on artificial ventilation," the CMO said.
Experts say that for the treatment of flu, one should visit a doctor within 48 hours and if necessary go for confirmatory test and other Influenza test like rapid influenza diagnostic tests ( RIDT), immunofluorescence tests (DFA or IFA) as early as possible.
Seasonal influenza has never been a serious concern until H1N1 influenza A virus gripped the city. Five deaths were reported in one week. Doctors say, every year many people die due to seasonal influenza world wide but unnecessary panic has been created about swine flu. The H1N1 influenza has high morbidity but low mortality.
H1N1 is a new sub-type of influenza A virus resulting from genetic shift. The virus is expected to behave like seasonal influenza. Currently, limited data is available regarding its epidemiological and clinical behaviour. Moreover. the virus has not shown any change in its genetic configuration since its emergence. Seasonal influenza virus (H1N1 and H3N2) and other respiratory viruses are also causing flu side by side.
Dr Arti Lalchandani, ICU incharge at Lala Lajpat Rai ( LLR) Hospital, said: "Around 60 per cent of the people develop antibodies against the infection without showing any clinical symptom. Only 5 per cent people show clinical symptom and 3 per cent die under critical condition."
"Generally, the incubation period of the virus is 1-4 days or may be up to 7 days. The condition becomes severe when the patient feels difficulty in breathing, pain or pressure in the chest, sudden dizziness, persistent vomiting and flu-like symptoms with fever and cough," Dr Arti added.