Recurrence of swine flu, dengue vexes SMC officials

Surat: The recurrence of swine flu and dengue cases during the months of August and September has got the health officials of Surat Municipal Corporation worried. There were 18 cases of swine flu and 193 cases of dengue in these two months in the city.

Surat reported 243 swine flu cases with nine deaths in August 2017 and 110 swine flu cases and four deaths in September 2017. There were two swine flu cases in August 2018 and 16 swine flu cases in September 2018 with one death.

Dr Aashish Naik, deputy commissioner of health, SMC, said, “ With swine flu becoming endemic, it will affect pregnant women and aged people first. They are vulnerable but otherwise mortality ratio is coming down in the city. Tamiflu medicine has proved to be effective.”

A doctor from SMC’s health department said, “We don’t wait for the test result. A suspected patient is put through the course of Tamiflu medicine and this has proved to be effective.”

Dr JP Wagadia, who is employed in VBDC department, SMC, said, “Temperature and humidity rise in coastal areas in post-monsoon and this increases the longevity of Aedes aegypti mosquito which is the main vector that transmits the viruses that cause dengue. We have been able to prevent deaths due to dengue though.”

The city reported 97 cases of dengue in August 2018 and 96 in September 2018. There were 125 and 185 dengue cases in August and September 2017, respectively.


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