Swine flu makes a sudden come back; over 100 positive cases reported

Swine flu has made a come back, creating a panic in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. About 100 people, including several children, have been afflicted with the H1N1 virus or human influenza in Telangana, and about 10 have died.

Though the virus has been present in the State ever since it was first reported in 2009, there’s a sudden spurt in the number of cases this winter. Doctors attribute the fresh outbreak to the sudden drop in temperature in the last three weeks.

While the first two years of 2009 and 2010 had recorded about 800 cases each, the incidents came down significantly thereafter only to show a sudden increase this winter.

“We have designated top hospitals such as Gandhi and Osmania universities as referral hospitals to screen and treat the patients. Other hospitals in the city such as Chest Hospital and the Fever Hospital too are treating the patients,” a senior official of the State’s Ministry of Health, said. There is panic in some parts of the city with reports of the virus outbreak spreading fast.

Doctors say that people with lung problems and pregnant women are at a higher risk. They advised the people of the city to avoid moving in crowded areas.