India urges Covid-era precautions as swine flu cases rise

India boosts surveillance and hospitals as surge in H1N1 or swine flu squeezes health services in Delhi and other regions of the country. India has had more than 1,000 H1N1 cases this year with no plans yet to bring back broader restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Delhi alone has confirmed 1,777 H1N1 cases from January through Aug. 20, or more than eight times more than the 229 infections reported a year earlier, based on data from the National Centre for Disease Control, the official health research agency.

Hospitals in the country’s capital city had expanded services to deal with the increased number of patients with flu symptoms.

The increased number of influenza patients has led officials and health specialists to reinstate measures familiar from the COVID-19 pandemic, including respiratory hygiene, social distancing and early medical help when sick.

Former World Health Organization top scientist Soumya Swaminathan has called on people to adhere to pandemic social distancing behaviour and hygiene to help contain the spread of influenza infections. The government of Delhi issued health warnings to hospitals to closely track patients with flu or any other respiratory issues. Public health official, also emphasize on early detection and treatment.

India’s Council for Medical Research clarified that there is no spread of a new H1N1 strain.

Official maintain that there are sufficient medicines and bed capacity in hospitals but urge the general public to remain alert against infections.