State sees big dip in influenza A(H1N1), dengue cases
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Some attribute it to affect of COVID-19-appropriate behaviour and others to under-reporting or seasonality
Although the second wave of COVID-19 had overwhelmed the State’s well being infrastructure, there was a pronounced decline in the variety of Influenza ‘A’ H1N1 and dengue cases to this point this 12 months.
While only one H1N1 case has been reported this 12 months in the State (from Bengaluru Urban), as many as 1,044 dengue cases have been reported from January until July 2. The variety of dengue cases have diminished by half in the primary quarter (903 cases from January until May) this 12 months in comparison with the 1,887 cases reported in the corresponding interval final 12 months.
The State had recorded a complete of 458 H1N1 cases and three deaths in 2020 when the pandemic started. While 3,685 dengue cases had been reported, there have been no deaths on account of this vector borne illness.
Greater surveillance
Bhanu Murthy, State Joint Director for Communicable Diseases, attributed the decline in H1N1 cases to elevated surveillance and COVID-19 precautions comparable to use of masks and social distancing as it’s also a respiratory an infection. However, some docs stated there might have been under-reporting of cases due to restricted hospital entry through the lockdown.
Virologist V. Ravi, who previously headed the division of Neuro Virology at NIMHANS and is now a part of the State’s COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), attributed the marked decline in H1N1 cases to herd immunity.
“Although the first outbreak of H1N1 was reported in 2009 in India, we developed herd immunity only around 2015 as there were no vaccines available for this respiratory disease,” he stated.
“The low number of cases so far does not mean that there will be fewer cases this year. The virus exhibits seasonality. But with COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, we will have to wait and watch,” he stated.
Alternate years
State Health Director Om Prakash Patil stated dengue in Karnataka has been following a sample of spiking each alternate 12 months. According to knowledge, 6,083 cases and eight deaths have been reported in 2016 whereas 17,844 cases and 10 deaths have been reported in 2017 adopted by 4,848 cases and 4 deaths in 2018.
The subsequent 12 months, the State noticed 18,183 cases and 17 deaths adopted by 3,685 cases in 2020. “As last year had witnessed a dip, this year we are expecting a rise. However, till July 2, only 1,044 dengue cases have been reported,” he stated.
Sudarshan Ballal, chairman, Manipal Hospitals, and member of the State’s COVID-19 knowledgeable committee, stated protocol helped in protecting away H1N1 too. Less building exercise because of the lockdown had prevented mosquito breeding, he stated.
“Dengue is related to mosquito breeding in stagnant fresh water and high-density populations where infected mosquitoes can bite a large number of individuals in a cluster. It is possible that many migrant workers were displaced and severe crowding in the lower socio-economic area might have been less during the pandemic,” he stated.
Raghu J., Senior Consultant (Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease Specialist) at Sakra World Hospital, stated as H1N1 and COVID-19 have related manifestations, docs are all the time contemplating H1N1 if a affected person doesn’t reply to COVID-19 remedy.
“Dengue cases too are decreasing as people are limiting outdoor activities. Staying indoors, people are not exposed to the vector much. However, over the last month, I have seen at least five dengue and two H1N1 patients,” he added.
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