63 cases, 2 deaths in HisarChandigarh: Haryana is seeing a fresh rise in H1N1 infections, with Hisar emerging as the most affected district in the latest publicly available updates.Hisar has reported 63 cases and two deaths as of Sept 12, while Bhiwani has detected 13 H1N1-positive samples besides two cases of Influenza A.The Hisar figures are particularly significant. The district reported seven fresh cases over Wednesday and Thursday, taking its cumulative tally to 61 before two more cases were subsequently reported. The second fatality was a 69-year-old woman from Bithmara village who had diabetes and severe pneumonia.Bhiwani’s surveillance has also thrown up a sharp signal. Of 29 samples tested at the district civil hospital, 13 were H1N1-positive and two showed Influenza A infection. Two patients were reported serious and hospitalised, while 13 had recovered. However, the 44.8% positivity among these samples cannot be treated as the district’s population positivity rate because the samples were clinically selected rather than randomly drawn.The bigger concern is the absence of a current, publicly accessible district-wise dashboard.Haryana’s health department has intensified surveillance ahead of the flu season, directing that at least 5% of influenza-like illness (ILI) patients be tested and that every severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) patient undergo influenza testing. Private hospitals and the Indian Medical Association have also been brought into the surveillance network through the IDSP-IHIP portal.This testing strategy creates an important denominator problem: rising confirmed cases may reflect both increased transmission and intensified detection. Without district-wise figures, it is difficult to assess the true geographical spread.The state has advised hospitals to maintain flu corners, stock oseltamivir and protective equipment, and keep critical-care and ventilator facilities ready. Health officials have stressed that elderly people, children below five, pregnant women and those with diabetes, heart, respiratory or other chronic illnesses face greater risk.
