Mumbai : Owing to warm temperatures, the city is finally getting respite from swine flu as only eight swine flu cases and zero deaths were reported on Friday. With each passing day, the number of swine flu cases is going down and people are breathing a sigh of relief. The city reported a maximum temperature of 32 degree Celsius and minimum of 26 degrees on Friday.
Since January, when the city was hit by the swine flu outbreak, the city has reported 1,898 swine flu cases and 49 deaths. However, this year due to fluctuating temperatures, swine flu cases were going up and down. Since past three to four days, the swine flu cases have been on a decline as only 10 to 14 swine flu cases were reported in comparison of 30 to 40 swine flu cases during the period of February-March.
City health experts claim that they are witnessing few swine flu cases as the virus is not very strong and active in the atmosphere. Dr Om Srivastava, head of infectious diseases department at Jaslok Hospital, said, “At times, we witness very few or zero swine flu cases. If we see the data of last five years, we will come to know that as the temperatures soar, the swine flu cases go downhill. Swine flu which is also known as Influenza virus cannot survive in temperatures more than 28 degrees.”
When asked, Dr Mangala Gomare, head of epidemiology cell at BMC, said, “The temperatures are rising and therefore we are witnessing a dip in swine flu cases and deaths. If the temperatures continue to soar, then eventually we will report zero cases in the coming days.”
Manasi Tahalani
