With fewer swine flu cases being reported in the city compared to other areas in the state, a question that is at the forefront is whether people have acquired some level of immunity against the virus. The other question that’s been lurking for a while now is whether the city will see a second wave of swine flu.

Joint director of health services Dr Ashok Mehta met officials at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) to discuss the epidemiological status of the virus on Thursday and said immunity level in people has been building up against the virus.

Mehta feels the epidemic will last for another few weeks till it becomes endemic to the region with a stray one or two cases being reported. NIV deputy director Dr M S Chadda too pointed out that studies are under way at NIV to test the serum samples to examine antibodies against the virus. It is too early to declare the results of the studies and we need to conduct more tests for a geographic representation of the city, said Dr B V Tandaley, a scientist at the NIV.

Earlier, The Indian Express had reported that there was a build-up of immunity levels among doctors who had treated H1N1 patients. By and large certain groups like doctors had 6-10 per cent immunity levels against the virus. Chadda said it was a welcome development as various groups were showing immunity against the virus, including school students. There is a sizeable immunity level (10-20 per cent) among various groups in the city, Chadda said. No results have been declared till date.

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