H1N1 risk gets higher than common cold: NIV

This year,the H1N1 virus is predominant,among the seasonal flu strains in the city. According to the National Institute of Virology it is likely that most cold and cough with fever could turn out to be swine flu.

This year,the H1N1 virus is predominant,among the seasonal flu strains in the city. According to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) it is likely that most cold and cough with fever could turn out to be swine flu.

NIV director AC Mishra said,the H1N1 viral strain is predominant this year vis-a-vis the seasonal influenza strain H3N2. So far,the H3N2 strain has been dominating since the past couple of years. However,after continuous monitoring we have found that the H1N1 virus is more predominant which means there is more likelihood of catching the H1N1 infection rather than the seasonal influenza.

The NIV director was speaking at a workshop on Friday on H1N1 epidemics across Maharashtra. Several scientists gave their presentations on the virus at the workshop organised by the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences and Association of Microbiologists in Pune at the Abasaheb Garware College .

Mishra also spoke on the effect of seasons on the infection and while summer epidemics were of a short duration,they had a high peak while winter epidemics were of a longer duration and low peak. Severity of the H1N1 virus remains the same and even if there are a few mutations,it is not of significant importance,he pointed out.

While the virology institute conducts surveillance of the existing seasonal influenza strains,the Pune Municipal Corporation has proposed that a centre at Naidu Hospital can maintain a database of the viral diseases.

According to Zagade,the swine flu pandemic in Pune had helped gear up the administration to set up and maintain 53 screening centres. We have been able to screen a population of six lakh people with swine flu symptoms which is not an easy task, said Zagade. Out of 375 deaths a total of 124 are from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) area,he said.

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