The number of throat swab samples coming from various parts of the country and being tested for the H1N1 virus at the National Institute of
Virology (NIV) has increased twofold in the last few days.
The number, which was earlier restricted to an average 20 samples per day in June, has now jumped to around 40. Moreover, on July 27, the NIV received 90 samples on a single day the highest on a day in the last three months.
"The viral infection will subside after the monsoon. Since it is a self-resolving as well as self-limiting virus, there is no need to panic," Mandeep Chadha, deputy director of NIV, told TOI on Tuesday.
The NIV has carried out 1,000 tests in the last three months. "Of which around 60 per cent of the samples were of IT professionals," said Chadha.
"The H1N1 group of viruses proliferate more when the weather is humid and cool," said Chadha. It's an airborne virus and humidity and cool weather conditions are conducive to its survival, she said.
The spread of the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to occur in the same way seasonal flu spreads. The influenza spreads from person to person through the respiratory route. If a person already infected with the virus coughs, sneezes or even talks or sings loudly, he or she generates aerosols or droplets of saliva with virus particles in it, Chadha said.
"These particles get deposited in the respiratory tract of a nearby person, who, in turn, gets infected. These particles also get deposited on inanimate objects (called fomites) like napkins, handkerchiefs, door knobs etc. The virus can remain viable on such surfaces for a week or two. If a person touches these surfaces and then touches his or her nose, mouth or eyes, the virus can get transmitted to that person," said Chadha.
According to city-based microbiologist Siddhartha Dalvi, "Influenza epidemics in colder countries are usually seen in winter. In tropical countries like India, epidemics can be seen throughout the year. In fact, there is a propensity towards more epidemics in the monsoon. This is usually due to a combination of high humidity, relatively cooler temperatures and indoor crowding of people."
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