Michigan strain of H1N1 arrives, but state’s vaccine armoury empty

Hyderabad: Though two cases of swine flu in Hyderabad have already tested positive for the mutated

Michigan strain

of the virus, the state health authorities do not have a single vial of the new vaccine required to fight the mutated virus.

This despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) advising countries earlier this year to stock up on the new vaccine strain (A/Michigan/45/2015) required to fight the mutated strain that is currently active across the globe.

Incidentally, of the 1490 H1N1 positive cases detected in 2017, 20 were detected in the last one month alone with the latest one being confirmed on Monday. In fact, this year there was an unusually high number of cases detected during the summer months, which raised suspicions about the virus having undergone mutation and spread across the southern states.

And with the mutated virus now finding its way to the state, it is a race against time for the Telangana State Medical Services Infrastructure Development Corporation (TSMIDC) to procure the required 10,000 vials of the new vaccine and supply to teaching hospitals, district hospitals and area hospitals.

Ideally the vaccine should have been administered in the month of April itself to high risk individuals who require annual vaccination. These include pregnant women, healthcare workers, elderly (over 65 years of age), children (between 6 months to 5 years of age) and people with chronic medical conditions.

“Each year the government of India recommends the vaccine pertaining to the strains that are circulating. Last year, we had procured 10,000 vaccines, of which 8,000 were utilized, while 2,000 have been returned before the expiry date. A similar stock of the new vaccine strain will be required for supply this year too,” said Dr Meena Kumari, Director Public Health.

Health authorities said that an indent has already been placed for 10,000 vials with the Centre and the vials are awaited. “We have not received any vaccine this year so far,” confirmed superintendent of the state run Gandhi Hospital, Dr Shravan Kumar.

Since the pandemic broke out in 2009, it is primarily the California strain that has been responsible for swine flu cases in India till date and it is only now that the Michigan virus has reared its head in the state.

The state health department had issued an advisory as early as the month of May for people to take extra precautions and reporting to the hospitals when they get the first symptoms of swine flu like high fever, sneezing cough and body pains. Citizens were advised to avoid going to crowded places, avoid hand shaking, cover their mouth/nose while sneezing and frequent cleaning of the hands.