India has recorded an alarming spike in swine flu (H1N1) this year, with 6,701 cases and 226 deaths confirmed till February 3, compared to 798 cases and 68 deaths during the corresponding period in 2018. The sharpest spike was in the week ending February 3, which reported close to a third (2,101) of the total cases. Rajasthan alone confirmed 507 cases and 49 deaths in one week, followed by Delhi with 456 cases, shows data from across India (except West Bengal, which last sent updated data on August 18, 2018). Last year, there were fewer than 15,000 cases, so this year we are expecting some increase,” said Union health secretary Preeti Sudan. Union health secretary Preeti Sudan held a high powered meeting with the senior ministry officials to review the preparedness and action taken to deal with spike in H1N1 cases on Wednesday.

Source: Hindustan Times February 07, 2019 02:16 UTC