Experts warned that this year, the number of H1N1 (swine flu) cases "is said to be six times higher than in the previous year," and are "quite severe."

In the wake of the surge in the H1N1 cases, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda chaired a health review meeting to assess Delhi's preparedness for seasonal and vector-borne diseases, including influenza, dengue and malaria.

Delhi has recorded over 2,300 Influenza-A cases this year, including over 1,777 H1N1 cases (swine flu) till Friday, news agency reported. The health department said 114 H1N1 cases were reported on Thursday alone.

1. Total cases: According to health department data, the total number of influenza cases reported in Delhi this year stands at 2,602, including 2,392 Influenza-A and 210 Influenza-B cases till Friday.

Among the Influenza-A cases, 1,777 are H1N1, 37 H1, 138 H3 and 440 other cases. The Influenza-B tally includes 200 Victoria strain cases and 10 other cases.

Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses that circulate across the world. Young children and elderly people with co-morbidities are among those most vulnerable to the infection, the health department said.

2. H1N1 cases ‘six times higher’: Speaking with news agency , Dr Neetu Jain, Senior Consultant, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at PSRI Hospital, said, “H1N1 cases are particularly high in Delhi-NCR this year. The number of cases is said to be six times higher than in previous years..."

She explained factors that have led to the increase in H1N1 cases in Delhi. Jain said, "First, the weather conditions, high temperatures and high humidity, can lead to an increase in H1N1 cases, flu cases, and viral infections in general..."

"The symptoms of H1N1 are similar to those of a normal flu, including fever, cough, cold, sore throat, runny nose, watery eyes, body aches, and general weakness...," she said.

"There are antiviral medicines that may be given to help improve the chances of a quicker recovery, and supportive care may also be needed," the doctor added.

Jain said that H1N1 is a "fairly treatable illness" and is generally not very dangerous, but it can be serious for some people. Such individuals should seek medical attention promptly.

3. H1N1 cases ‘quite severe’: Meanwhile, Public Health Expert Dr Chandrakant Lahariya said that H1N1 is not a new subtype, and has been known for a long time.

"However, this time it is being observed that the cases of H1N1 that are coming in are quite severe. Along with this, it is also being seen that other family members are also contracting the illness more frequently from it," Lahariya told .

Explaining the reason behind this, Lahariya said the main point is that this virus circulates for many years, "but we know that flu viruses keep changing every year. Changes keep occurring in their subtypes as well, and their symptoms also keep appearing accordingly."

"So this time, the illness caused by the H1N1 subtype is becoming a bit severe and affecting more people. In such a situation, everyone is advised to exercise extra caution," Lahariya said, urging high risk groups to take extra precautions.

4. Risk groups, symptoms: Principal Director & Unit Head, Internal Medicine, Dr Satish Koul said no mortality linked to H1N1 has been reported in his OPD so far.

Swine flu (H1N1) can show up through symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, headache, runny nose, body aches and fatigue.

Koul said the elderly are at risk, as the flu can “develop into pneumonia”. He warned that young children also face difficulties.

“Most importantly, those with comorbidities such as uncontrolled diabetes, ongoing cancer treatment, or those on immunosuppressive medication can experience severe forms of the illness,” he said.

“For others, it might just involve a fever lasting 3 to 5 days, a cough, and a sore throat before recovery...not every patient needs anti-flu medication. It is required only for patients falling into 'Category C'...the risk of transmission increases during seasonal transitions as people tend to socialise more,” he added.

5. Delhi govt's advisory: The Delhi government has issued a health advisory urging citizens to follow respiratory hygiene, use masks in crowded places, maintain hand hygiene, avoid close contact with people suffering from respiratory illnesses and consult doctors instead of self-medication.

> cover their mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing

> wash their hands regularly with soap and water

> avoid close contact with people suffering from respiratory illnesses

> avoid touching their eyes and nose

> Refrain from spitting in public places

> Consult a doctor if symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, breathing difficulty, body ache or headache appear

> Do not take medication without medical advice

6. Nadda reviews H1N1 preparedness: Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Friday reviewed the prevailing H1N1 influenza situation and preparedness across the country, with particular focus on the national capital and called for continued vigilance, robust surveillance and proactive preparedness.

The Union Health Minister reviewed the national surveillance and epidemiological situation, Influenza-like illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) trends, testing and laboratory surveillance, and preparedness of healthcare facilities to manage seasonal influenza cases.

He emphasised the need for continued vigilance, robust surveillance, and proactive preparedness, with close monitoring of influenza trends and timely identification and management of any unusual increase or clustering of cases

7. Action taken: According to , advisories have been issued to Chief District Medical Officers (CDMOs), District Surveillance Officers and hospitals for screening, reporting and monitoring of ILI, SARI and influenza cases.

Technical guidelines covering patient categorisation, treatment protocols, ventilatory management, mask usage and home care have already been circulated. Healthcare workers are also being sensitised and trained on symptoms and follow-up protocols.

A refresher training programme for district officers was conducted recently, while an inter-sectoral meeting with MCD, NDMC, Cantonment Board, Education Department, DDA and other stakeholders was held to strengthen public awareness and IEC activities on influenza prevention and control.

Daily review meetings with CDMOs are also being conducted.

8. Delhi fully prepared: The health department earlier said Delhi was fully prepared to deal with the seasonal rise in influenza cases, with adequate beds, doctors, medicines and essential medical equipment available in hospitals.

It said 35 hospitals have been kept under special surveillance and two referral laboratories have been designated at AIIMS and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Meanwhile, the Delhi Health Minister said the government is continuously monitoring patient numbers and strengthening hospital arrangements as per requirements.

"We have shared the complete preparedness report of Delhi with the Hon'ble Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda Ji, including arrangements for beds, doctors, medicines and other essential facilities. The Hon'ble Union Health Minister has assured that the Centre will provide all necessary support to Delhi. Under the leadership of Hon'ble Chief Minister Smt Rekha Gupta, our focus is to ensure that every patient gets timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment, quality medicines and specialist care," the health minister was quoted by as saying.

9. Take caution: Emphasising the importance of preventive measures, Arjun Dang, CEO of Dr Dang's Lab, told public awareness and basic precautions could help limit the transmission of the virus.

"Public awareness remains crucial: regular hand hygiene, appropriate masking, and, when a positive result is confirmed -- isolation and treatment under the guidance of a physician can help limit transmission," he said.

He advised people at higher risk, including those with compromised immunity and comorbidities, to remain vigilant and seek medical advice if they develop symptoms.

"Immunocompromised individuals and others at higher risk should remain particularly vigilant and seek medical advice and timely testing if they develop symptoms," Dang said.

Akriti Anand is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint. She is a digital journalist with more than six years in the news industry.

In her current role, she covers both national and international politics, and also keeps a close watch on the latest trends in science and space exploration.

Akriti joined the LiveMint team in October 2023. Before this, she built a strong career at other major media houses. She worked as a senior sub-editor at India Today. Later, she moved to CNBCTV-18. There, she covered high-pressure topics like breaking news and major elections. She spent much of her time analysing Parliament bills and complex political debates. She is also a skilled editor who knows how to polish a story for a digital audience.

One of her career highlights happened at CNBCTV-18. She made her first television debut during the Chandrayaan-3 mission. She also provided special on-air coverage for the Karnataka Elections.

When she is not busy with breaking news, Akriti loves to write explainers and interview experts on a wide range of issues. She also enjoys making complex space missions easy for everyone to understand.

Her education helps her tackle these diverse subjects. She holds a BA in English Literature, a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication, and a Master’s degree in Development Studies. She is currently expanding her knowledge in climate journalism.

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