At a time when everybody is wary of a third COVID-19 wave and the vulnerability of children to it, more than thousands of children have been infected by a deadly flu virus in West Bengal.
Doctors say the situation is alarming since the virus is spreading from north Bengal to the south. Districts such as Purulia, Bankura and Murshidabad are badly hit.
While government figures say that around 750 children have been infected in six north Bengal districts so far, doctors say that the number has doubled in last 24 hours.
“I can tell you it is a grim situation,” says Sanjeet Kumar Tiwari, a paediatrician in Siliguri, north Bengal.
He said he has been treating more than 50 such cases every day and more cases are pouring in.
So far, six deaths have been officially reported.
The flu outbreak is severe in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, North and South Dinajpur, Alipurduar and Malda. West Bengal health officials met in Kolkata’s SSKM hospital to monitor the situation. A health team has left for north Bengal to assess the situation and the government has asked people to not to fall prey to any “gossips”.
Tiwari says the strain of the flu is influenza B and RS (Respiratory Syncytial) virus. “RS virus causes severe pneumonia. Children with malnutrition or co-morbidities have high fatality.”
Anti-pyretic and anti-allergic medicines are normally used to treat it. In some cases, doctors say, double anti-allergic tablets are given. But children are showing symptoms of bronchitis and hypoxemia (low levels of oxygen).
With the flu not responding to antibiotics, doctors are relying on nebulisation and, in extreme cases, ventilation.
“North Bengal Medical College or other government hospitals in the region lack such facilities. We need urgent help from Kolkata,” said a senior government doctor of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri.
The children are being tested for COVID-19. But most of them have tested negative.
“RS virus mostly hit young children and infants. So, it is very difficult to handle the situation. They have throat infection with bronchitis,” says Tiwari.
The virus is airborne and can affect any child, says the doctor. The children who took jab against flu have low-grade symptoms.
State opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari has appealed to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya for a medical team. Sources said a central medical team would soon reach north Bengal to assess the situation. Union health secretary, sources said, has spoken to the West Bengal health secretary N.S. Nigam and promised all help.
