2015 Indian swine flu outbreak explained

Outbreak Of Swine Flu In India (2015)
Date:1 January 2015 – May 2015
Place:India
Casualties1:2,035 dead (as of 30 March 2015)
Casualties2:33,761 infected (as of 30 March 2015)

The 2015 Indian swine flu outbreak refers to an outbreak of the H1N1 virus[1] in India, during early 2015. The states of Gujarat and Rajasthan were the worst affected.[2] [3] [4]

India had reported 937 cases and 218 deaths from swine flu in the year 2014. By mid-February 2015, the reported cases and deaths in 2015 had surpassed the previous numbers. The total number of laboratory confirmed cases crossed 33,000 mark with death of more than 2,000 people.

Background

The H1N1 virus outbreak had previously occurred in India during the 2009 flu pandemic. The virus killed 981 people in 2009 and 1,763 in 2010. The mortality decreased in 2011 to 75. It claimed 405 lives in 2012 and 699 lives in 2013. In 2014, a total of 218 people died from the H1N1 flu, India recorded 837 laboratory confirmed cases in the year.[5]

Every year, there was a rise in number of cases and deaths during winter as temperature affects virus. During 2014–15 winter, there was a spurt in cases at the end 2014. In 2015, the outbreak became widespread through India. On 12 February 2015, Rajasthan declared an epidemic.[6]

Reported cases by states

By 20 March, according to the data released by the Health Ministry, 31,974 cases had been reported and 1,895 person had died to the disease.[7]

State data-sort-type="number" Reported cases !data-sort-type="number" Number of deathsDeath rateNotes
6,559 4186.33%As of 30 March 2015
6,500 4286.59%As of 30 March 2015
4,137 130.29%As of 20 March 2015
4,000+ 3949.85%As of 30 March 2015
2,185 29913.68%As of 30 March 2015
2,140+ 753.50%As of 30 March 2015[8]
320 144.38%As of 20 March 2015[9] [10]
2,733 823.00%As of 30 March 2015
227 5323.35%As of 30 March 2015
72 2230.56%As of 20 March 2015
165 3621.82%As of 19 March 2015
17As of 20 March 2015
7 114.29%
109 1614.68%As of 20 March 2015
20As of 20 March 2015
25 1248.00%As of 20 March 2015
11As of 20 March 2015
22 522.73%As of 11 March 2015[11]
58 2441.38%As of 20 March 2015
10 110.00%As of 9 March 2015[12]
5 240.00%As of 12 March 2015[13]
4 0.00%As of 20 March 2015[14]
1 0.00%As of 18 February 2015[15]
Total 33,761 2,0356.03%As of 30 March 2015

Although Delhi, Karnataka, Telangana reported a large number of cases, the death toll was lower due to better awareness and a better developed health care sector.[16]

Timeline

On 13 February 2015, the Health Ministry began the procurement process of 60,000 units of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and 10,000 units of N-95 masks. A tender for 10,000 diagnostic kits was floated.[17] The Health Ministry on 18 February 2015 said in a press release that there was no shortage of drugs or logistics problems.[18] By 22 February 2015, more than 13,688 had been infected and death toll was reported to be 812 in the year 2015.[19]

The President of the North West Chemist Association, Hakim Kapasi said in mid-February 2015 that, private pharmacies were facing a shortage because Oseltamivir was a controlled Schedule X drug and very few pharmacies had the license to sell it.[17]

Aligarh Muslim University and National Law University in Jodhpur suspended classes in mid-February after some of their students tested positive.[20]

In mid-February, the Government of Delhi fixed the price of swine flu diagnostics tests at and the labs charging more that were issued show cause notices subject to cancellation of license.[21] On 24 February, the District Collector of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, prohibited unlawful assembly under Section 144 of the CrPC to prevent spread of the disease.[22]

March

A paper published in Cell Host and Microbe[23] stated that the virus had acquired a mutation which made it easier to infect humans, and called for real time surveillance with genetic and phenotypic analysis made available quickly, noting "Given the global reach of influenza, there is an urgent need to develop a comprehensive and at least somewhat standardized response to influenza epidemic outbreaks." This is contrary to the Indian government's claim that no mutations had been found.[24]

On 2 March, Maharashtra government announced that the cost of treatment of swine-flu patients in the state will be paid by the state government.[25]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 'It's H1N1 pandemic influenza 2009, not swine flu'. 22 February 2015. The Times of India. 20 February 2015. 23 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150223140428/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Its-H1N1-pandemic-influenza-2009-not-swine-flu/articleshow/46306847.cms. live.
  2. Web site: Swine flu deaths at 1,895; number of cases near 32K mark. Press Trust of India. The Indian Express. March 21, 2015. March 21, 2015. October 12, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151012003206/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/swine-flu-deaths-at-1895-cases-near-32k-mark/. live.
  3. News: India struggles with deadly swine flu outbreak. 21 February 2015. BBC News. 20 February 2015. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221082410/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-31547455. live.
  4. News: Death toll Gujarat. 15 March 2015. Business Standard. 15 March 2015. 2 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402093322/http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/swine-flu-claims-5-more-lives-toll-mounts-to-387-in-gujarat-115031500609_1.html. live.
  5. News: Swine flu outbreak: 743 deaths, 12,000 cases set alarm bells ringing. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221092434/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/swine-flu-outbreak-743-deaths-12000-positive-cases-set-alarm-bells-ringing-across-india/article1-1319158.aspx. dead. February 21, 2015. 21 February 2015. Hindustan Times. 21 February 2015.
  6. News: Rajasthan declares swine flu epidemic. 22 February 2015. Business Standard. 13 February 2015. 22 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150222130819/http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/rajasthan-declares-swine-flu-epidemic-115021201672_1.html. live.
  7. Web site: Swine flu toll inches towards 1,900. PTI. The Hindu. March 19, 2015. March 20, 2015. https://archive.today/20150320080119/http://m.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/swine-flu-toll-inches-towards-1900-no-of-cases-crosses-31000/article7011912.ece/. 2015-03-20. dead.
  8. News: 75 Swine Flu Deaths in Telangana; 32 Fresh Cases Reported. Press Trust of India. 21 March 2015. NDTV. 21 March 2015. 21 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150321040656/http://m.ndtv.com/telangana-news/75-swine-flu-deaths-in-telangana-32-fresh-cases-reported-748391. live.
  9. News: Swine flu toll climbs to 1,482. 13 March 2015. The Hindu. 11 March 2015. 8 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210908173945/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/swine-flu-toll-climbs-to-1482/article6979611.ece. live.
  10. News: Egmore Woman Latest Victim of Swine Flu, Tamil Nadu Swine Flu Toll Rises to 12. 13 March 2015. The New Indian Express. 6 March 2015. 10 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150310040452/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Egmore-Woman-Latest-Victim-of-Swine-Flu-Tamil-Nadu-Swine-Flu-Toll-Rises-to-12/2015/03/06/article2700228.ece. dead.
  11. News: 22 swine flu cases in Odisha. 13 March 2015. Zee News. 9 March 2015. 9 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309234901/http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/health-news/22-swine-flu-cases-in-odisha_1558566.html. live.
  12. News: As swine flu toll crosses 1400, Assam reports first death. https://web.archive.org/web/20150309232810/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/swine-flu-toll-crosses-1-400-mark-assam-reports-first-death/article1-1324463.aspx. dead. March 9, 2015. 13 March 2015. Hindustan Times. 9 March 2015.
  13. Web site: Manipur swine flu patient dies - Assam brakes on tests. https://web.archive.org/web/20150312090053/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150312/jsp/northeast/story_8118.jsp. dead. March 12, 2015. The Telegraph. March 12, 2015. March 20, 2015.
  14. Web site: Swine flu: 2 more test positive in Mizoram. The Times of India. The Times of India. March 20, 2015. March 20, 2015. March 20, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150320175524/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Swine-flu-2-more-test-positive-in-Mizoram/articleshow/46626658.cms. live.
  15. Web site: First swine flu case in Northeast. Iboyaima Laithangbam. The Hindu. February 18, 2015. March 20, 2015. https://archive.today/20150320091216/http://m.thehindu.com/news/national/first-swine-flu-case-reported-in-nagaland/article6907880.ece/. March 20, 2015. dead. mdy-all.
  16. News: Swine flu death toll nears 600 in India. 21 February 2015. The Times of India. 17 February 2015. 20 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150220004303/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Swine-flu-death-nears-600-in-India/articleshow/46271578.cms. live.
  17. News: Facing shortage, Govt expedites procurement of swine flu drug. 21 February 2015. The Times of India. 13 February 2015. 15 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150215183802/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Facing-shortage-Govt-expedites-procurement-of-swine-flu-drug/articleshow/46223851.cms. live.
  18. News: Indian health officials urge calm as swine flu outbreak spreads. 21 February 2015. Al Jazeera. 20 February 2015. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221195102/http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/20/indian-health-officials-urge-calm-as-swine-flu-outbreak-spreads.html. live.
  19. News: Swine flu claims 38 more lives, death toll crosses 800. 22 February 2015. Business Standard. 22 February 2015. 22 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150222164150/http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/swine-flu-claims-38-more-lives-death-toll-crosses-800-115022200396_1.html. live.
  20. News: India Deploys Expert Teams to Study Rise in Flu Cases. 21 February 2015. The New York Times. 19 February 2015. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221193727/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/20/world/asia/india-deploys-expert-teams-to-study-rise-in-flu-cases.html. live.
  21. News: Delhi: Show cause notice to 2 labs for overcharging for swine flu test. https://web.archive.org/web/20150225195227/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/delhi-show-cause-notice-to-2-labs-for-overcharging-for-swine-flu-test/529827-17.html. dead. 25 February 2015. 22 February 2015. IBNLive. 21 February 2015.
  22. News: Section 144 imposed in Ahmedabad to prevent swine flu as toll mounts to 231 in Gujarat. 13 March 2015. The Times of India. 24 February 2015. 1 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150301213000/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Section-144-imposed-in-Ahmedabad-to-prevent-swine-flu-as-toll-mounts-to-231-in-Gujarat/articleshow/46359843.cms. live.
  23. Influenza Surveillance: 2014–2015 H1N1 "Swine"-Derived Influenza Viruses from India. Kannan Tharakaraman. Ram Sasisekharan. 10.1016/j.chom.2015.02.019. 17. 3. Cell Host & Microbe. 279–282. 2015. 25766285. free. 1721.1/109154. free.
  24. News: Indian swine-flu virus reveals dangerous new mutation. 13 March 2015. Business Standard. 12 March 2015. 12 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150312174142/http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/indian-swine-flu-virus-reveals-dangerous-new-mutation-115031200209_1.html. live.
  25. News: Maharashtra to Provide Free Swine Flu Treatment After 150 Deaths. 13 March 2015. The New Indian Express. 2 March 2015. 2 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402203324/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Maharashtra-to-Provide-Free-Swine-Flu-Treatment-After-150-Deaths/2015/03/02/article2694662.ece. dead.

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