Swine flu cases in Delhi have risen sharply, with the total case count crossing 2,300 and prompting the government to issue public health warnings. Officials said the number of cases this year is nearly eight times higher than in previous years.
Alongside the swine flu cases reported in Delhi, around 650 cases of another flu variant have also come to light. The government has advised citizens to resume some of the precautions followed during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, no specific mandate on wearing masks has been imposed. Through a public advisory, authorities have urged people to take adequate precautions while visiting crowded areas.
The Delhi Health Department said it is closely monitoring the situation and is fully prepared to handle any eventuality. Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh clarified that there is no need for public concern, adding that hospitals have adequate beds, doctors and medicines available.
The minister said a special meeting was held with officials from the NDMC and the Municipal Corporation to review the situation. He noted that around 3,000 patients, including those with H1N1 variants, had come to hospitals, and all of them had recovered and been discharged. He said there are currently 2,308 swine flu cases, with another 600 to 650 cases linked to a different variant. He also stated that 2,200 dengue cases have recently been recorded. He said no fatalities have been reported, no patients are in serious condition, and none are on ICU support or ventilators, adding that patients coming in with ordinary fever are recovering quickly after treatment.
ICMR Director said India’s disease surveillance system has strengthened considerably since the Covid-19 pandemic, giving authorities the ability to track which viruses are circulating in the country in near real time. He said surveillance is being carried out based on reports from states and laboratory data, with a total of 73 laboratories across the country participating in this monitoring. He added that 25 samples are being collected every week from cases involving severe respiratory illness and tested for all types of viruses.