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BMC issues advisory as influenza H1N1 cases reach three years high in Mumbai

As the number of H1N1 cases in the city has risen over that of the previous two years, the BMC on Tuesday advised people in high-risk categories to seek medical assistance and even hospitalisation if they have advanced symptoms including breathing and chest discomfort.

TN City Desk

Updated Jul 27, 2022, 10:13 IST

BMC

Photo : PTI

Mumbai: As the number of influenza H1N1 cases in the city has risen over that of the previous two years, the BMC on Tuesday advised people in high-risk categories to seek medical assistance and even hospitalisation if they have advanced symptoms including breathing and chest discomfort.

In Mumbai, there have been 66 H1N1 infections that have been confirmed, more than the 64 cases in 2021 and 44 cases in 2020. With 62 of the 66 cases documented in July alone, the spike has mostly been in this month. H1N1 has historically affected the city every two years, and is frequently described as a sickness that has a cyclical pattern. For instance, there were 25 instances in 2018 and 451 cases in 2019.

Doctors said that because testing and reporting are both constrained, the official figures don't accurately reflect the burden.

According to the BMC's list of dos and don'ts, H1N1 often causes symptoms including fever, coughing, sore throat, body aches, headaches, and diarrhoea, which go away with treatment.

"However, if individuals from high-risk groups, such as pregnant women or person with diabetes, hypertension develop additional symptoms like breathlessness, chest pain, blood in vomit, bluish discolouration of nails, there is need for hospitalisation," said Dr Mangala Gomare, executive health officer. For children, irritation and drowsiness should be a red flag.

Dr. Bela Verma of the pediatric department at JJ Hospital acknowledged that testing is a restriction according to an article by TOI. The test costs between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000 in the private sector, she added, adding that the majority of public hospitals lack it. Gomare stated that Kasturba Hospital offers free testing.

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