A large number of Delhi schoolchildren are reporting sick due to swine flu in this changing weather.
Delhi has so far reported 1,687 positive cases, 777 of them children. The number seems to be steadily rising, particularly among children. Out of 201 positive cases in the last two days, 136 were children, forcing certain schools to shut down abruptly as a precautionary measure.
Schools like Delhi Public School (DPS), Mathura Road, and DPS Noida, that were looking to compensate their working days -- lost due to extended summer holidays -- had to abruptly close down on Thursday after the students tested positive for swine flu.
School authorities said that since there was fear of swine flu spreading further among children, they decided to shut down, to coincide with a long weekend. The hostels, too, were vacated.
School authorities said that this was the best way to stop the situation from going out of hand.
However, the state government would not recommend closure of schools. "Its time people started treating swine flu like seasonal flu. Even though it is widespread in Delhi and other areas, about 99% people have recovered. There is no need for worry and panic, but I would request parents to take children to hospitals at the earliest so that crucial time is not wasted," Delhi health minister Kiran Walia said.
"This is a typical season for seasonal influenza in Delhi and since H1N1 is already established in the community, it is spreading faster. Since children are vulnerable to all sorts of infections, they are in the high-risk category," Dr Anjan Prakash, nodal officer on H1N1 in the Delhi government, said.
Health authorities fear H1N1cases would shoot up because of crowding during the approaching festive season.
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