Seven weeks before the H1N1 influenza A virus or swine flu claimed its first victim in India, an advanced laboratory at the St John’s Research Institute, located at the St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences in Bangalore, put together a test for swine flu. The real-time polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) test was created on the basis of protocols put out by the WHO collaborating centre for H1N1 tests on April 28 this year.

But when an eight-year-old girl — one of the most serious patients in Bangalore— was admitted with acute respiratory problems at the St John’s Hospital last week, her throat swabs had to be sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune for official recognition as a swine flu infection. The RTPCR test at St John’s, developed by the head of the infectious diseases department at the research unit, Dr Kenneth John, is useful in initiating early treatment for swine flu infected persons, but is not validated by the Union Health Ministry since the Centre currently recognises only tests carried out using kits provided by it.

As swine flu spreads across India, one thing that is already showing up are the lacunae in the Indian public health system, including lack of an effective diagnostic, clinical and research response. “There is not enough scientific background on influenza in the country. No one studies influenza in India. This is a limitation. Without sound understanding you cannot find bio markers and diagnostic tests for the virus,” says Utpal Tatu, associate professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) who studied the influenza virus at Yale University, but focuses on malaria research at the IISc. The Indian Council for Medical Research and the Department of Biotechnology’s recent announcement of grants for H1N1 research in Indian laboratories is believed to be the first efforts at promoting influenza research.

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