Influenza a H1N1 (Swine flu) Current status and way forward with Pandemic Vaccination
Dr.L.Jampa
It may be seen now, that nearly a year after the global alarm was raised by the WHO, on the spread of the new Swine flu strain reaching a pandemic scale has died down. But the reality is, the Pandemic situation of the infection and deaths are still is continuing and growing despite it receiving lesser media attention.
This input on the updates over the current situation is purely intended to provide more and also correct information to all concerned and of course the people at large.
The current situation of Influenza ‘A’ H1N1 which is commonly known by “Swine flu” by many is reported daily by both WHO and the MOHFW, Govt. of India in their websites (i.e www.who.org and www.mohfw.nic.in, respectively) gives information as shown below.
WHO (as on 11th April/2010): Globally it has involved 214 countries and overseas territories have reported over 17,798 deaths.
While the consolidated status of the same infection and deaths in India as on 17th April/2010 reads as follows:
i) Cumulative total laboratory confirmed cases =30,465.
ii) Cumulative total Deaths of laboratory confirmed cases =1,481.
From the above status reports, we can understand that the situation of the Pandemic is still continuing all over the world including our country. This is so because the infection of the H1N1 virus is by air-borne i.e by droplet infection. We must all appreciate that it is very difficult to prevent and contain any disease which is transmitted by air unlike the water-borne and vector-borne diseases. However, India had been alert to the situation well in time and had put all preventive measures in place throughout the country. The surveillance mechanism to detect any suspect and confirmed cases had been beefed-up to a robust level in all the states. Logistic support on procurement of the drugs like Tamiflu, sample collection kits and other personal protective equipments (PPEs) have all been provided to all the states by the MOHFW, Govt. Of India, New Delhi.
As on date, no confirmed infection have been recorded in Arunachal Pradesh whereas in states like Assam (52 cases), Meghalaya (8), Mizoram (4) and 2 cases each in Manipur and Nagaland have reported confirmed cases of H1N1.
Deaths have also occurred in Assam (2 deaths) and Mizoram (1) so far. Our state along with others in the North-East is still vulnerable for the infection considering the mode of spread and the travels by people to other states to and fro.
Recently, the Govt. Of India has initiated to roll out ‘Pandemic Vaccine’ from 14/3/2010. One important prevention/mitigation strategy is vaccinating the at risk population with pandemic vaccine specific for H1N1. The target population to be vaccinated in the first phase are medical, para-medical and supporting staff of health facilities upto the CHCs and above. 3500 doses of the vaccine have been supplied for Arunachal Pradesh and is kept in cold chain (2 – 8 degree C) in the Hq. This vaccine is given as 0.5 ml by I.M injection to the target groups. The objectives by this vaccination is to protect those most at risk of infection with Pandemic influenza ‘A’ H1N1 virus and to prioritize and vaccinate health care workers to ensure that the health facilities providing medical care/H1N1 care are able to continue its operations. All the hospitals and districts have been informed by the State Nodal Officer for H1N1 of this exercise as instructed by the MOHFW, Govt. of India. Therefore the vaccines are now being distributed to the districts as per their requirements. It is planned to complete the vaccination to the target group by the end of April 2010 in the State.
The vaccine procured is an inactivated vaccine and very few adverse events are expected. So far there have been no reports from any States to the MOHFW, New Delhi about any adverse effects and is a safe vaccine.
Efforts are on to manufacture Pandemic vaccine for H1N1 indigenously. The indigenous vaccine is under going clinical trials and expected to be available by May/June 2010. Meanwhile MOHFW, Govt. of India has imported 1.5 million doses of vaccine to vaccinate selected population among the high risk group.
For any doubts or for more information the State & Districts Surveillance Officers may be contacted. (The writer is State Nodal Officer, for Influenza ‘A’ H1N1, Arunachal Pradesh)
Observations on Obesity
Last year Vogue editor Anna Wintour made the comment, “I’d just been on a trip to Minnesota, where I can only kindly describe most of the people I saw as ‘little houses.” Granted, Ms. Wintour is thin, as are all the beautiful models that appear in her publication, but as I travel around the country, I can’t help but agree with her. It is definitely a growing and problematic phenomenon.
Having had several delays in airports in the last few months, this has become more apparent than ever. The perfect venue for people-watching, I have reluctantly sat and watched the people pass by in small hurried steps, long lopes, gimpy limps, waddles, and pushed in wheelchairs. Large, bulky citizens, huffing and puffing to get to their gates, looking distressed and apparently unhappy about the trek. I see them ordering takeout from the fast food restaurants, walking away with big bags and extra-large sodas, too rushed to sit down and order something to eat slowly and thoughtfully. The line at Starbucks is always long, and no one seems to order black coffee anymore, it’s always a mocha, or double-whip caramel macchiato or a frosty frappuccino (one of the only things that kept my cancer-ridden father nourished, once upon a time). Not that there is much that is healthy in most small to mid-size airports these days. (When I went hunting, I found a veggie and dip combo that had broccoli, carrots, celery and ranch dip, but much to my dismay the carrots were shriveled and the celery ends had dried up.)
Now mind you, I am not thin. I was once, but like many other Americans, the metabolism slows down and I guess I did not get a clue soon enough. Throw in a debilitating bout with an unpronounceable disease and one major back surgery and…you get the picture. I am healthy, but I am not what I was twenty years ago. I have to work at it on a daily basis, and like many, there are days I feel it is a losing battle. But giving up is not an option.
I do, and always have, eaten healthy and had some form of exercise, but as most of us know, stumbling blocks show up in our way, and instead of that smooth run around the track, the hurdles just seem to get bigger and bigger. But that doesn’t mean we have to give in. Just look at The Biggest Loser. Bob and Jillian are known by every household in America, and we all envy the tenacity and success of each and every contestant. But for some reason, many Americans don’t have the drive, the determination, the knowledge, or the support system to make weight loss a reality. Some have trouble asking for help; others think it takes a dramatic shift in lifestyle. (While in reality, baby steps are fine to begin with.) Whatever the reason, obesity is taking over in households across America, at an alarming rate, and affecting our children in ways we may not understand for years to come.
Next time you visit the shopping mall, sit down in a restaurant, or are forced to spend time in an airport, assess the situation for yourself. Imagine what is going on behind that ever-expanding waistline, like diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease. It’s time to have a reality check, take stock of our situation, and move to become a healthier nation.
