Swine flu: three more Pune schoolchildren test positive

Meanwhile,one person was quarantined in Kasturba Hospital in Mumbai for suspected swine flu on Saturday.

Health officials admit that the virus is spreading rapidly not just in the country but also in the state with 38 positive cases reported until now. One of the reasons,experts believe,is monsoon as the climate is favourable for virus to survive. “According to seasonal virus patterns,the country experiences two peaks – one in July,the onset of monsoon and the other in November,the onset of winter. And this season can be one of the peaks for swine flu as well,” said Dr Pradeep Awte,in-charge of state Health Department influenza cell.

Meanwhile,state authorities and the Pune Municipal Corporation will soon hold a meeting to discuss measures to contain the spread of the flu,officials said.

Since the A H1N1 influenza is a new strain of virus,limited medical literature is available for doctors to refer to and hence even doctors do not directly relate it to monsoon or winter. “Of whatever little is known about this influenza,there is an increase in the virus activity in cool and dry weather,” said Dr Awte. He added,“The epidemic broke out in northern hemisphere during winter; India was not affected as it was summer then and now with monsoon we are expecting more cases.”

Evidence of its spread in monsoon can be gauged in the state as out of the total swine flu cases so far,the 13 cases in Pune are indigenous cases (contacts of those who had travel history and tested positive),including 10 from the same school.

A 16-year-old boy went to Indiana University in the US for a year-long exchange programme at the American Field Service. He returned to Pune early this month where he tested positive at Naidu Hospital. He infected his 12-year-old cousin who in turn infected nine others in his school.