NEWDELHI: Is the government underplaying swine flu deaths in Delhi? While official records say only five people have died of the viral illness so far this year, a random check with five top hospitals in the capital reveals more than 40 deaths in the past two months.
Some other hospitals refused to divulge information on deaths. Among hospitals that shared data with TOI, Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) had recorded the maximum numbers of deaths at 22, of which 13 patients were from Delhi, seven from Uttar Pradesh and two from Haryana. At Safdarjung hospital, 11 swine flu patients were recorded to have died -five from Delhi and the rest from neighbouring
states. AIIMS officials said there have been four swine flu deaths in the hospital in August alone. Among private hospitals, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) confirmed four and three deaths due to the disease, respectively.
Many private hospitals and some government ones refused to share details of swine flu fatalities, saying the data had been sent to the authorities concerned. "Last year, we faced a lot of harassment for sharing data on dengue deaths with the media," an official of a top private hospital said.
Off the record, the official said more than seven people had died of swine flu at their hospital this year. Asked about the discrepancy over swine flu deaths in Delhi, state government officials claimed most of the deaths were of patients from other states. "Also, the central government hospitals, where the maximum deaths have taken place, may not be sharing data with us. We will look into it," said an official.
The official said, as per government records, 15 swine flu-related deaths had been reported from various hospitals of which five were confirmed to have been caused by the viral illness. "The death review committee examined all cases and swine flu was responsible for only five of the deaths. The rest of the patients had other co-morbidities that could have led to death," the official said.
Proper surveillance and reporting of deaths due to notifiable diseases is crucial to the management of these illnesses. "If we don't report correctly and keep saying the situation is under control, people may not realize the seriousness of the situation until it is too late," said a senior doctor.
Last year, the committee set up by the Delhi government to review cases of deaths attributed to dengue and chikungunya had said co- morbid conditions had led to death in many cases. Some death reports sent from hospitals were rejected due to "lack of records". Swine flu assumed epidemic proportions in 2009 for the first time and since then there have been sporadic outbreaks of the disease, caused by the H1N1 virus, across the country.
But this year, the disease appears to have a strong comeback claiming more than 900 lives across the country in the past eight months, with nearly 20,000 people being infected. Maharashtra and Gujarat are the worst affected with 404 and 190 deaths, respectively.
In Delhi, officials say, about 1300 people have tested positive for swine flu and five have died. Clinicians suspect the H1N1 virus, which causes swine flu, may have mutated. The disease initially spread through pigs but now transmits from human to human.
Union health ministry officials said government has put Oseltamivir, marketed as Tamiflu, in schedule H1to enable it to be sold by all licensed chemists under prescription. The drug was earlier in schedule X, wherein only certain selected pharmacists were authorized to stock it. Symptoms of swine flu are similar to common viral illnesses. But the intensity is higher. Doctors say those suffering from asthma, diabetes and other pre-existing illness are vulnerable to serious manifestations and preventive flu vaccination is suggested.
"Regular follow-up with doctors is important. Patients often delay visiting the doctor which leads to complications and in some cases, death," said Dr Arup Basu, senior chest physician at SGRH.
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