Ludhiana sees fresh swine flu case; surveillance up

The development comes amid a wider increase in H1N1 infections in parts of the region, Delhi has reported a sharp rise in cases this year, with 1,344 H1N1 cases reported so far, according to a recent report

A fresh swine flu (H1N1) case has been reported in the district following the hospitalisation of a 56-year-old man from Kisan Enclave, Khanna, at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). The patient, identified as Sanjeev Kumar, had recently returned from a pilgrimage to Naina Devi, where he had travelled as a kanwariya, and was admitted after developing pneumonia.

(HT)

According to health officials, Kumar’s condition is stable. His wife and son, who were identified as close contacts, have been provided preventive medication, while a health department team has also completed a survey of the patient’s residential area. Officials said there was no cause for concern in the locality so far.

District epidemiologist Dr Surpreet Kaur said H1N1 cases had started appearing in the district over the past one to two months, although the numbers remained very low. Cases were reported in both June and July.

“We have started seeing cases, but the numbers are still very low. We are trying to control the spread at this stage itself so that the situation does not escalate. Guidelines have been forwarded to health facilities, including instructions on the isolation and management of suspected cases,” she said.

The development comes amid a wider increase in H1N1 infections in parts of the region. Delhi has reported a sharp rise in cases this year, with 1,344 H1N1 cases reported so far, according to a recent report. Health officials in Punjab have also issued preventive advisories across districts as cases have been detected in several places, including Patiala and Amritsar.

H1N1 is a strain of influenza virus that primarily affects the respiratory system. It spreads from an infected person through respiratory droplets released while coughing, sneezing or talking, and can also spread when people touch contaminated surfaces and then touch their nose, mouth or eyes.

The illness can initially resemble seasonal flu, with symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, headache and fatigue. Most infections are manageable, but some patients can develop complications such as pneumonia and breathing difficulty, particularly those at higher risk.

Doctors advise people with fever and respiratory symptoms to avoid close contact with others, wear a mask in crowded or indoor settings, maintain hand hygiene and seek medical advice if symptoms are severe or persistent. Warning signs such as breathlessness, chest discomfort, falling oxygen levels, confusion or worsening symptoms after initial improvement require prompt medical attention.

Dr Kaur said the immediate focus of the health department was to prevent the isolated cases from developing into a wider outbreak. “At present, the numbers are very low. We are taking preventive measures and monitoring the situation closely. If cases increase significantly, managing the load on the healthcare system can become difficult, so the effort is to contain transmission at this stage,” she said.