New Delhi, Dec 04: With the drop in mercury, the second wave of H1N1 influenza has been on the march. The isolation wards of RML Hospital, Sir Gangaram Hospital, Apollo Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital are full.
Given the urgency of increasing bed capacity, on Thursday, the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) authorised Action Balaji hospital in Paschim Vihar to start admitting patients in a 10-bed isolation ward. “In the coming week, we will certify another three to four private hospitals to start functioning,” said Dr Debashish Bhatacharya, Nodal officer for the H1N1 pandemic in Delhi.
The second wave of the influenza has doctors, health officials and parents worried. While the number of cases has significantly increased, most patients over the last fortnight were children below 10 years in age.
On Thursday, 176 people tested positive for the virus, of whom 120 were children. So far, 5,417 cases have been reported from the Capital and 3,155 of them have been children.
“In the past week, we have seen a significant rise in the number of patients coming for H1N1 screening,” said Dr NK Chaturvedi, Medical Superintendent, RML Hospital. “Though it is too soon to comment on the change in severity of the infection, the numbers are definitely increasing. Most patients belong to the younger age group since their immunity levels are comparatively low.”
Over the past week, the average number of cases reported each day has gone up from 30 to well above 100.
Experts say the dip in temperature has made it easier for the virus to spread easily. “This is a time everyone, especially parents, must take precautions,” said Dr Anjan Prakash of Delhi health department.
As far as schools are concerned, authorities maintain there is no need to panic.
“Schools have to send out the right message by conducting more preventive counselling,” said Health Minister Kiran Walia. “If schoolchildren are infected, our district surveillance officers should be contacted. There is no need to panic and shut down schools. Only in case of cluster infections in one particular school/class should the schools be shut.”
Nine sections of Shri Ram School were temporarily shut after a few students tested positive for the H1N1 virus. St Mary’s too had to shut classes some time ago.
Four classes of DPS RK Puram that were closed down after students from these sections tested positive for the virus, will open on Monday.
“We informed the parents and closing down classes was a precautionary measure,” said a teacher.
Three sections of Class VIII and one section of Class IX remained closed for a weak.
–Agencies