‘City better prepared for third H1N1 wave’

Over the last one week, the number of swine flu cases reported in Delhi per day ranged between 0 and 4. While the rising mercury has helped the government contain the H1N1 virus, experts maintain the city has developed a ‘herd immunity’ against the pandemic.

Till date, 95 persons have succumbed to the H1N1 influenza in Delhi and 9,685 patients have been treated.

“Whenever a new virus surfaces in the community, severe cases are reported in the beginning. The H1N1 virus has been there for over six months now and people have developed herd immunity against it. Our bodies have adapted. If the virus mutates, then we will have to wait and see but this time, we are better prepared,” Dr Anjan Prakash, state nodal officer for the H1N1 pandemic, said.

According to epidemiologists, the possibility of a third wave of the virus cannot be ruled out. “The comforting fact is that the second wave also did not really have any effect in India. The worst is, perhaps, over. In case of a third wave, the community will already know how to deal with the influenza. This is a seasonal disease, which should die its natural death. It is highly unlikely that the virus will show drastic mutation and threaten the community like it did the last time,” Dr Bir Singh, Professor of Community Medicine at AIIMS.

Source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/-City-better-prepared-for-third-H1N1-wave-/584707/