Srinagar, Dec 21: In the past three years, J&K has reported zero Swine Flu deaths while the cases have also shown massive decline, as per the Union Health Ministry which maintains the record of seasonal influenza under its Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
As per IDSP figures, Jammu and Kashmir reported 106 swine flu cases in 2020, four cases in 2021 and only four cases till December 20 this year. However, there has been no death in the past three years due to the seasonal flu in Jammu and Kashmir.
As per the official data, in 2017 there were 26 deaths and 140 H1N1 cases were reported that year. Similarly, in 2018 J&K reported 14 H1N1casualties and 77 cases.
The figures revealed that J&K reported 447 swine flu cases in 2019, the highest number of swine flu cases reported so far, out of which 27 patients had died.
Similarly, in 2020, 106 people were infected with the H1N1, but no one died.
The data also reveals that in the past ten months only four swine flu cases were reported while no causality has been reported so far this year.
Swine flu or H1N1 or Seasonal Influenza is a seasonal infection which usually occurs every year with two peaks which include January to March and July to September.
Preventive measures like covering nose and mouth with a tissue/handkerchief while coughing or sneezing, washing hands often with soap and water is advisable to check the spread.
Officials say the relatively low number of cases over these years didn’t mean that there would be fewer cases this year. There could be a possible winter spike in winter months.
They said the use of masks and social distancing has also contributed to decline in swine flu cases as it too was a respiratory infection.
A doctor at GMC Srinagar said a person having fever, cough, sneezing and running noose could be a case of H1N1 influenza saying it doesn’t mean the person would be H1N1 positive. “It may be any type of flu. These are common viral infections, which happen in any part of the world,” he said.
