Delhi-NCR has been witnessing a surge in influenza cases, including the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu. A recent survey by LocalCircles indicates that 54% of households in the region have reported one or more members experiencing flu-like symptoms.
Since February 2025, a growing number of people have been suffering from headaches, cough, fatigue, mild fever, and other respiratory issues, with recovery times extending up to 10 days instead of the usual 5-7 days. The survey gathered over 13,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad, with 63% of respondents being men and 37% women.
Additionally, there has been a sharp rise in swine flu cases, leading to an increased burden on healthcare facilities. Since its symptoms closely resemble those of Covid-19, it has raised concerns among medical professionals. Reports from states and Union Territories submitted to the Central Surveillance Unit of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Delhi show that over 20,000 people have been infected with the virus, with at least 347 fatalities recorded as of December 2024.
Dr. Vikas Mittal, a pulmonologist and Director of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at C K Birla Hospital, Punjabi Bagh, noted that many patients visiting OPDs exhibit prolonged upper respiratory symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, and persistent dry cough lasting over two weeks, often following an initial fever. He also pointed out that many of these cases do not respond to conventional flu treatments. Some patients present with hyperreactive airway symptoms, requiring asthma-like treatment with bronchodilators, inhalers, and, in some cases, oral steroids.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), seasonal flu affects approximately one billion people globally each year. Out of these cases, 3-5 million are classified as severe, with flu-related deaths ranging from 290,000 to 650,000 annually.
