Goa: Since last year, swine flu cases double till November

PANAJI: As many as 107 H1N1 cases were registered in the state till date this year. It is almost double the cases registered in 2018.
The state health department, however, feels there would be fewer cases in 2020, at least in the first quarter.
A spurt in H1N1 cases was witnessed earlier this year when there was an outbreak in some parts of the country.
“When there is a high incidence of H1NI in other states, Goa also has increased cases of swine flu,” state epidemiologist at the directorate of health services Dr Utkarsh Betodkar said.
Since the incidence of H1NI was lower in other states in the second half of the year, fewer cases have been registered during last few months in Goa.
The incidence of H1N1 is high in January, February and March and later in July, August and September though sporadic cases are detected in other months well.
Cases are detected even post-outbreak because the virus stays in the environment for some time.
Two H1N1 deaths were reported in 2019 till Novemberend, while four persons died of HINI in 2018 and 55 cases were registered.
In 2017, 260 persons were detected with H1N1 and there were 12 deaths due to swine flu. A similar situation was witnessed in 2015, with 193 cases and 19 deaths.
Betodkar, however, said that swine flu is being treated like any other flu and a person without any travel history can be affected by it. Hence, people should take care and not self-medicate, he said.
People who are suffering from diabetes, heart disease, hypertension or any other major illness, should be extra careful. As they have a higher risk of developing complications in the event timely medical help is not sought, the state epidemiologist said.
“If a person suffering from a severe lung infection gets H1NI and he doesn’t receive medical help, chances of him developing complications are high. Such a patient shouldn’t ignore his flu condition,” he said.