Amid growing Swine flu cases across the country, a fresh case has been reported in Chandigarh. The city’s tally since January stands at 12.
This is the city’s second case this season, with one case having surfaced earlier in July.
The one patient reported this month is at home. Cases of swine flu and particularly H1N1 and H3N2 viruses are reported every year but this time, the cases have come early. He explained the swine flu is a seasonal flu with symptoms of fever, cough and cold. The risk of severe disease including pneumonia is more in persons having other comorbidities such as hypertension, old age, infants and on long term medications, etc.
Neighbour Punjab, meanwhile, has been seeing a surge in cases with 93 cases being reported till Sunday. Haryana has logged 8 cases this month. Usually, the cases emerge in September and October, said Dr Vishal Guglani, pediatrician and medical superintendent in Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32.
Director health services Dr Suman Sigh said nobody has been hospitalised for swine flu so far in Chandigarh. Based on severity, flu cases can be divided into three categories: Mild where symptoms are mild fever, cough and cold; Grade B where the patient suffers from high fever and may need oxygen support, according to the World Health Organisation’s definition.
