Influenza A in Southern states of India from 2010 to 2018: A trend analysis

ABSTRACT

Background: In the past 100 years, many influenza pandemics were reported including the Spanish flu in 1919–1920 with 40–50 million deaths worldwide. After the pandemics, the strain of influenza virus continues to circulate as seasonal flu. Every year 650,000 people die of respiratory diseases linked to seasonal flu. The Government of India has done many interventions in the past few years to reduce the burden in the country. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the burden and trend of morbidity and mortality due to influenza A H1N1 infection in the Southern states of India from 2010 to 2018. Materials and Methods: A secondary data analysis of available data (2010–2018) from reliable sources was conducted to assess the burden and trend of morbidity and mortality due to influenza A H1N1 infection in the Southern states of India from 2010 to 2018. The data were compiled, tabulated, and plotted in graphs for both morbidity and mortality. Results: As per the data, in 2018, the Southern states contribute 47.7% of morbidity and 20.2% of mortality of India due to influenza A H1N1. The contribution toward morbidity by Southern states was lowest 2013 and gradually increasing after 2015. The contribution toward mortality by Southern states is also similar to morbidity trend. Conclusion: The trend analysis showed that the burden, i.e., morbidity and mortality of influenza increases every alternate years in Southern states. The contribution toward morbidity and mortality of influenza by Southern states is gradually increasing after 2015. Detailed trend analysis for a long time period of morbidity and mortality taking the environmental changes into account, forecasting of the burden could help the concerned authority to plan the intervention effectively.