Health experts have been saying that the key to tackling the spread of the H1N1 influenza lies in early detection. Now, the Health Ministry says it has data to support it.

According to the data, all the people who tested positive through screening at 22 international airports throughout the country—of the 834 tested, 480 people tested positive for the virus—showed only mild symptoms and were successfully treated for the flu. Only one case, that of a Delhi woman who had an underlined illness, progressed to pneumonia but even she was cured. The point the ministry data makes is that the illness in these people never became severe because they were diagnosed at early stages.

“When these people were identified, they had very mild symptoms, some cough, some cold, some fever. The symptoms were so mild that they were travelling and thought of themselves as completely fit,” said an expert in the ministry who didn’t want to be named.

There have been 2,669 positive cases and 53 deaths throughout the country. In all the cases of death so far, the causes have been delayed treatment or an underlined disease. “Even in case of underlined diseases, things can be managed if people report to doctors early,” he said.

The government had advised all private practitioners to report back with cases of pneumonia and if they find symptoms of the disease—cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty in breathing—during physical examination.

“If the pneumonia is due to swine flu it cannot be cured by antibiotics; anti-virals (Tamiflu) have to be given,” he said.

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