India: H1N1 resurfaces; doctors suspect minor mutation

[tetano]

The human influenza virus, called H1N1, has resurfaced in the country, with dozens of sporadic cases reported from different states including AP and Maharashtra.

Authorities are planning to screen passengers at airports if the number of cases keep increasing.

Virologists are trying to decode the genome of the circulating strain to ascertain if it has mutated since the 2009 pandemic to adapt itself to dry climate conditions. Though influenza viruses strike round the year, they are more active in wet conditions and low temperatures.

Summer has begun in many parts of the country with the mercury soaring past 35o Celsius. That the H1N1 virus seems to be thriving in these conditions is causing scientists to wonder if the virus has mutated, and if so, to what extent. If the mutation is a major one, a new vaccine has to be developed.

The National Institute of Virology in Pune, Mahara-shtra, has begun sequencing the genome of the latest strain. The results are expected later this week. AP recorded about 50 cases of H1N1 so far this year with three patients succumbing to the virus.

Maharashtra and Rajasthan have been worst hit so far, and authorities in AP, given the havoc the virus had caused in the past, have increased surveillance in border areas and major cities such as Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. Hyderabad district immunisation officer Dr C. Srinivasulu said there was no cause for panic as only sporadic cases have been reported.

?There is no outbreak as of now. Also, the virus has been responding to drugs like Tamiflu,? he said.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chan...resurfaces-doctors-suspect-minor-mutation-610

 

[tetano]

Re: India: H1N1 resurfaces; doctors suspect minor mutation

The swine flu epidemic has been very serious in Pune this year, when compared to anywhere in the state or even in the country.
Doctors feel that it is partly to do with the erratic weather, besides factors including many not having developed immunity to the virus, like a few did, after it first broke out in 2009. Another factor could also be that the virus itself has developed immunity to temperature, which allows itself to sustain in higher temperatures unlike the claim that it can only survive in a cooler environment.
Dr Vijay Kumar Pawar, resident medical officer Aundh Civil Hospital said, ?There are many factors for the recurrence of swine flu in Pune. One of the plausible reasons is that the virus itself has developed a new strain, which helps it to survive in warmer temperatures.?
?While humans beings develop immunity to the virus, the virus itself keeps transforming, which is why we get the cases that we do,? he added.
According to health officials, another important reason for the maximum cases of swine flu being diagnosed and confirmed from Pune, is the presence of National Virology Institute (NIV) in the region.
So even if swine flu cases are elsewhere, due to lack of lab facilities, those cases cannot be confirmed.
Dr S.T. Pardeshi, chief health officer of Pune Municipal Corporation said, ?Apart form changes in the virus strain, we also have the NIV, which diligently collects H1N1 samples. This automatically results in higher numbers. There may be ample number of swine flu cases elsewhere too, but due to lack of adequate lab testing facilities, they may not have been reported.?
Another death on Sunday evening in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municial Corporation (PCMC), took the total death count in Pune to seven.

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