Three-month-old baby affected with swine flu virus in Telengana

A three-month-old baby in Hyderabad region had been affected with the virus as swine flu cases returned to Telengana.

According to reports, the child was receiving treatment at Hyderabad's Rainbow Hospital, while four other cases were reported in the city yesterday.

Since August 2016, six deaths and 116 cases of swine flu had been registered in the state, PTI reported citing a state health official on Tuesday.

As many as 2,717 samples had been tested till 5 January, of which 107 were found to be positive, a swine flu bulletin issued by the state health and family welfare department reported on 6 January.

The bulletin advised citizens to take precautions like reporting to hospitals upon noticing first symptoms of swine flu like high fever, sneezing cough and body pains. The bulletin added that sufficient stock of medicines and adequate testing kits were available in the state.
 
Meanwhile, doctors at Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad were awaiting sample reports of two more patients who were suspected to have contracted swine flu, The New Indian Express reported today.

A 35-year-old woman from Yadadri died on Sunday, after contracting swine flu. She was reportedly critical when admitted to Gandhi Hospital.
 
While there were no more critical patients getting treatment at the hospital, doctors did not rule out the possibility of more patients being admitted.

Specialists had earlier assumed that the incidence of the flu was higher in winters and plummeted during summers.

However, after cases were reported in 2015 summer, doctors said incidence of flu was no more limited to seasons.

''Genetic mutations might be the reason for incidence of flu during unusual times,'' said Dr K Narasimhulu, the former swine flu nodal officer of the state, The New Indian Express reported.