Gurgaon: The city recorded seven H1N1 (swine flu) cases in Aug so far — the highest monthly tally in 2026 and more than double the count from any other month this year, according to district health department data.Twenty-one H1N1 cases have been recorded in the city between Jan and Aug. The district reported three cases each in Jan, March, June and July, two in Feb, none in April and May, and seven in Aug — the sharpest single-month spike of the year.Health officials typically link such patterns to monsoon humidity, which favours the survival and spread of influenza viruses. However, the district’s case numbers remain too small to confirm a sustained upward trend.Doctors cautioned against reading too much into the Aug figures, saying Sept’s numbers would be key to determining whether the spike is a temporary increase or the start of a broader seasonal surge.A significant number of patients are currently presenting with flu-like symptoms — high-grade fever (in some cases up to 103°F), chills, sore throat, cough, and a runny or blocked nose, said Dr Tushar Tayal, associate director of internal medicine at CK Birla Hospital. Some patients also report gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.Dr Santosh Kumar Agrawal, director of internal medicine at Faridabad’s Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, added that headache, body ache and marked fatigue are also common. Both doctors said H1N1 symptoms overlap considerably with other seasonal influenza strains, making the infection difficult to identify on symptoms alone.“There is no distinct symptom that reliably separates swine flu from other flu-like respiratory illnesses. Laboratory confirmation therefore remains important, particularly from a surveillance perspective,” Dr Agrawal said.Dr Tayal said a large proportion of symptomatic patients are testing positive for influenza, including H1N1.“The reassuring aspect is that, in most otherwise healthy individuals, influenza is a self-limiting viral illness that can be managed with adequate rest, hydration and symptomatic treatment,” Dr Tayal said.Patients with severe symptoms or low immunity may require antiviral medication as advised by a doctor, he added. Antibiotics do not treat influenza and should be used only if a bacterial infection is suspected or confirmed.Doctors advised people with flu-like symptoms to wear masks in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, maintain hand hygiene, avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, and keep indoor spaces well ventilated.Those who develop symptoms should avoid close contact with others, stay home where possible, and rest and hydrate adequately. Medical attention should be sought if fever persists or worsens, symptoms become severe, breathing difficulty develops, or oxygen levels fall.
