TIRUPATI: The precautions taken by the public to fight the deadly coronavirus appears to have played a key role in reduction of the seasonal swine flu (H1N1) cases in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, giving some respite to the overburdened health authorities.
The latest data from National Centre for Disease Control (NCCD) show that the number of H1N1 cases had dropped in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana by 10% and 67% respectively, when compared to incidence data from the past few years.
According to the data, till the end of September, Andhra Pradesh has reported 32 H1N1 cases and two deaths, while last year the total number of cases reported were 333 with 15 deaths. The first case of swine flu in the current calendar year was reported in Anantapur district.
The data also shows that AP reported 12 cases and five deaths in 2016. The state, however, saw a massive hike in H1N1 cases in the following years: 476 cases and 14 deaths in 2017 and 402 cases and 17 deaths in 2018…