Nagpur: Swine flu cases have surged sharply in Nagpur, with 147 fresh cases reported last month, including 128 in the city and 19 in rural areas. Five deaths have also been reported from rural Nagpur this year due to swine flu, with the health department noting delayed diagnosis among the affected patients.The scale of the surge is evident from the fact that Nagpur district reported only 126 cases in the first eight months of this year. The Sept spike has taken the district’s tally to 273, including 210 cases in the city and 63 in rural Nagpur.Experts attributed the sharp increase to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. The surge amid the festive season has triggered concern among health experts, as large gatherings at festival venues and markets are expected to increase the risk of transmission. Health officials warned that respiratory infections such as swine flu can spread rapidly in crowded places.Several private hospitals reported full-capacity admissions, leaving patients struggling to find beds at their preferred facilities. The rush also led to tensions between relatives and hospital administrations over delays in securing beds, with videos of such altercations circulating on social media.However, health officials said no fresh swine flu case had been reported in October so far.Meanwhile, dengue cases in Nagpur city more than doubled in a month, rising from 19 in August to 46 in Sept. Rural Nagpur recorded 36 cases between Jan and Sept, taking the district total to 82.
