H1N1 scare may persist due to high humidity

VISAKHAPATNAM: Swine flu scare continues to haunt the city despite measures by the district administration, while the officials attribute the spurt in H1N1 cases due to rising humidity levels in the city.
According to Cyclone Warning Centre officials, Visakhapatnam registered 88% humidity on January 30, the highest so far this year. The city also registered high humidity levels of 85% on January 2, and 84% on January 1 and 3.
"Humidity levels generally increase as the summer advances. In coastal cities like Visakhapatnam, the humidity levels are always high in warm weather conditions," said N Narasimha Rao, assistant meteorologist, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Hyderabad.
M Madhusudhana Babu, superintendent of King George Hospital, said, "Despite possible measures by the authorities concerned, swine flu has not been contained yet. The main reason is increase in humidity levels. Humidity provides the congenial atmosphere for the spread of the H1N1 virus. So, people should take precaution like wearing masks."
Another senior health expert from the Government Chest Hospital at Peda Waltair said, "Flu cases generally decrease in warmer weather conditions. However, this principle will only be applicable to plain areas like Hyderabad. But when it comes to the coastal areas like Visakhapatnam, it will not be applicable because of the high humidity levels. We suspect that the scare will continue in summer too."
Meanwhile, LDSH Devi, nodal officer for swine flu in the district, said that 33 swabs of swine flu suspected cases from all four districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari were sent to the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) Hyderabad so far. From the IPM, they got 18 negative reports, nine positive cases. The reports of six swabs are yet to come, she said.