Mumbai: Swine flu cases rising in city

A schoolboy, wearing a mask amid an outbreak of swine flu, sits by a window, in August 2009. Pic/AFP

Even as the third wave threat hangs over the city, it is witnessing a rise in swine flu cases. As of now, Mumbai has registered 60 cases of swine flu, much higher than last year's entire tally of 44, according to the data issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). However, doctors have advised caution, saying the actual figure could be much higher. Both Covid-19 and swine flu are respiratory illnesses.

Dr Kedar Toraskar, critical care specialist, Wockhardt Hospital, said, "After the second Covid-19 wave, we have seen a persistent rise in swine flu cases. As the clinical symptoms are similar, patients are advised Covid-19 test and if they test negative, we ask them to undergo swine flu test, and it comes positive most of the time."

As not many people are getting themselves tested for swine flu because of the high cost, it is difficult, data wise, to prove the rise in the number of this illness, said Dr Toraskar. Dr Om Shrivastav, infectious diseases expert, said there have been a number of patients with symptoms mimicking influenza or Covid-19, which turn out to be swine flu - influenza A (H1N1) - and its variant, H3N2.

"We need to be aware that swine flu cannot be distinguished on clinical features and patients not responding to Covid-19 and influenza treatment may require treatment for swine flu," he said. Agreeing with Dr Toraskar, Dr Vasant Nagvekar, an infectious disease expert at Global and Lilavati hospitals, said, "We are seeing more influenza A and swine flu cases. The main symptoms are similar to that of Covid-19, like fever, cough and sore throat. If 10 people with these symptoms are tested, the majority turn positive for influenza and swine flu."