Chennai: H1N1 infections are under control in the state, but govt will examine the need to vaccinate vulnerable people such as the elderly and pregnant women, said health minister K G Arunraj in the assembly on Thursday.Replying to questions from MLAs, Arunraj said govt was continuously monitoring the H1N1 situation and urged people not to panic. States such as Delhi and Karnataka are reporting a spike in cases of the viral infection — a subtype of the influenza-A virus that causes symptoms such as fever, cough and sore throat. The infection can turn severe, requiring hospitalisation and intensive care in vulnerable populations. While H1N1 infections were higher during the first four months of 2025, this year’s cases have peaked from May to Aug, he said. The govt is monitoring daily fever, dengue and H1N1 cases, deaths and disease clusters, said Arunraj. Mosquito breeding sites were being identified and eliminated, alongside measures to control adult mosquito populations. Fever surveillance is being conducted daily across 5,805 govt and private hospitals, he added.Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu reported 12,856 dengue cases and seven deaths until Aug 26, said the minister. The state has stepped up surveillance and mosquito-control measures during monsoon season, when cases of the vector-borne disease rise. While Chennai has reported the highest dengue burden in the state, cases were high in Coimbatore, Tiruvallur, Salem, Chengalpet, Pudukkottai, Tirupur, Krishnagiri, Ranipet and Villupuram. Health workers are conducting house-to-house fever surveillance, identifying clusters and testing suspected dengue patients. Doctors have been instructed to treat patients showing dengue-like symptoms appropriately even if their test results are negative.Dengue is spread by day-biting Aedes mosquitoes that breed in stagnant clean water, he said, and urged residents to ensure rainwater and clean water do not accumulate in and around their homes.
