Volume : 2, Issue : 3, March - 2013

Epidemiological Profile of H1N1 Cases in Western Rajasthan from January 2012 to December 2012.

Dr. Mahendra Singh, Dr. Suman Bhansali, Dr. Afzal Hakim

Abstract :

Context: A large number of H1N1cases and deaths have been reported in Western Rajasthan during pandemic of H1N1 in year 2009–10. In year 2012 this Influenza A H1N1 virus once again resurfacing in western Rajasthan and reared its ugly head in the western Rajasthan.Once again H1N1 infection posed a serious threat to health community and was a cause of serious concerns in Western Rajasthan. Aims: To study the epidemiological profile of H1N1 cases in Western Rajasthan from January 2012 to December 2012. Settings and Design: Retrospective descriptive analysis Methods and Material: Epidemiological characteristics of Influenza A H1N1 cases in Western Rajasthan from January 2012 to December 2012 were retrospectively, descriptively analyzed using data from the swine flu control room, Influenza A H1N1 screening center and isolation wards at the Dr.S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur. Dr.S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur is a largest multispecialty tertiary care teaching institution in Western Rajasthan. Data were Analyzed using MS Excel software. Results: At Dr. SNMC, from January 2012 to December 2012, a total of 817patients were tested for Influenza A H1N1, of which 21.8% (178) were found to be positive for the disease. Majority (71.3%, 127) of cases were females. Maximum cases (50%) were detected in the month of December and the patients >15–45 years of age accounted for 75.8% (135 ) of the cases. Influenza A H1N1 resulted in death of 12.9% (23) of the total cases, of which 65% (15) deaths occurred within 48 h of admission. Majority (69.6%,16) of deaths occurred in females. The patients >15–45 years of age accounted for 52.2% of the deaths. 40.4% (72) of cases and 52.2% (12) of deaths have occurred in pregnant and postpartum women. Conclusions: Influenza A H1N1 virus once again resurfacing in western Rajasthan and reared its ugly head in the western Rajasthan in year 2012. Similar to H1N1 pandemic 2009, the incidence and mortality in 2012 in western Rajasthan was higher in young. H1N1 influenza can cause severe illness and deaths in pregnant and postpartum women.