Hyderabad: Officials fear swine flu outbreak

Hyderabad: A dip in temperature has raised the fear of swine flu, with two cases being detected in the last week of August. Mass gatherings due to the festival season and movement of crowds from one place to another has led to fears that swine flu may see an early advent in the city.

Dengue cases, usually seen in large numbers in the last week of August, have this year been observed from July onwards. The changing cycle of the vector-borne disease has raised fears of swine flu too.

A senior government health official explained, “Swine flu cases in the state have emerged whenever there is a long spell of low temperature. This has been the pattern. Hence the early numbers in August show that those who are immunity has been compromised must take care as the virus will strike in the months of winter. Since the virus has got used to the climatic conditions in Telangana, it is in the atmosphere and becomes active when the temperatures dip.”

The vulnerable population are senior citizens, children, cancer and kidney transplant patients, and also those whose immunity has been compromised due to other underlying medical conditions. The virus is also active when there are mass gatherings and events and regular movement from one part to another.  The early sporadic cases are being viewed with caution as dengue management has been a challenge in the state this year.