With H1N1 infections rising in the national capital, Union health minister JP Nadda on Friday reviewed surveillance and preparedness measures , with a particular focus on Delhi, which has recorded over 1,700 cases so far this year.
Also Read I Why H1N1 cases are rising in Delhi and how to protect yourself? “If we test a symptomatic patient now, we are finding H1N1. It is spreading fast, but in healthy individuals, symptoms remain mild — sore throat, chest pain, runny nose. However, we have also seen patients requiring hospitalisation, some even on ventilators.
Also Read I H1N1 flu cases swell in Delhi: Symptoms, precautions and who is at risk According to National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) data, Delhi has recorded more than 3,000 H1N1 cases in three recent outbreak years – 4,307 cases in 2015, 3,627 in 2019 and 3,151 in 2024. This year’s tally of nearly 1,777 cases remains well below those peaks. In contrast, the city witnessed another major outbreak in 2024 without recording any deaths.
The meeting, attended by Delhi health minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, assessed trends in influenza -like illness (ILI), severe acute respiratory infections (SARI), laboratory testing, and the readiness of hospitals to manage seasonal influenza cases, according to the Union health ministry. Doctors in Delhi said infections have increased sharply over the past fortnight. Those with severe symptoms are usually elderly or have underlying conditions,” said Dr GC Khilnani, chairperson of PSRI Institute of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine.
