 |
This colorized negative stained transmission electron
micrograph
(TEM) depicted some of the ultrastructural morphology
of the
A/CA/4/09 swine flu virus
|
New Delhi: World Health Organisation while declaring the Pandemic to be
over in August 2010, conveyed that the influenza H1N1 pandemic virus would take
on the behaviour of seasonal influenza virus and continue to circulate for some
years to come.
Hence, in the post-pandemic period, localized outbreaks of
varying magnitude with significant level of H1N1 transmission are expected.
In the post pandemic period, our country had experienced
outbreaks during the period August to October, 2010; May to July 2011; March
and October 2012 and now in January –February 2013.
Increase in number of cases
of Influenza A H1N1 are being reported presently from the States of Delhi,
Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab. Small pockets of population who
remained unexposed to the pandemic and susceptible would be affected.
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| Illustration of antigenic shift |
A large number of these cases would be presenting with mild
influenza like illness and as such requires no testing or anti-viral drug
treatment.
However, it is important to get oneself examined at the nearest
hospital in the initial part of illness to detect moderate illness and other
associated risk factors/ diseases that require hospitalization.
The anti-viral drug Oseltamivir is available free of cost
through the State public health system. A central stockpile of about 5.5
million tablets of Oseltamivir is also maintained.
As the virus is circulating within the country, there is no
need to impose any travel restrictions or screening at inter-state point of
entry, railway stations etc.
The situation is well under control and is being monitored.