Most number of deaths by H1N1 in Punjab, Kerala, and Gujarat

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health

Context:

Punjab (41), Kerala (34), and Gujarat (28) top the list of States that have recorded the maximum number of deaths by influenza A (H1N1), according to the latest figures released by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
With over 9,000 H1N1 cases, India has registered 178 deaths by H1N1 , till the end of July in 2024.

About H1N1:

H1N1, also known as swine flu, is a respiratory disease that can affect both pigs and humans.
H1N1 is a subtype of the influenza A virus that causes infections in the respiratory tract.
Symptoms of HIN1 include cough, sore throat, chills, body ache etc.

Transmission:

The virus spreads through the air by coughing, sneezing, breathing, and talking, and can also enter the body via contaminated surfaces.
The virus is contagious from about a day before symptoms appear until about four days after they start.
Children and people with weakened immune systems may be able to spread the virus for a slightly longer period of time.

Zoonotic diseases:

Zoonoses are infectious diseases that can transfer between animals and humans.
It inclues rabies, anthrax, influenza (H1N1 and H5N1), Nipah, COVID-19, brucellosis, and tuberculosis.
These diseases are caused by various pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi.
Prevention and control of zoonotic diseases is achieved by vaccination, good hygiene and animal husbandry practices, and vector control.

National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC):

It is an institute under the Indian Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
NCDC, formerly National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), had its origin as the Central Malaria Bureau, established at Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh) in 1909.
NICD was transformed into the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with a larger mandate of controlling emerging and re-emerging diseases in 2009.
It functions as the nodal agency in the country for disease surveillance facilitating prevention and control of communicable diseases.
It is also a national level institute for training specialized manpower for public health, laboratory sciences and entomological services and is involved in various applied research activities.
The Institute has its headquarters in New Delhi.