132 swine flu cases reported in AP this year

HYDERABAD: After one-year lull, the swine flu has made a come back to the state with number of victims is on the rise this year.Just four months of the year passing, the state has reported 132 cases of swine flu. The health officials say it is difficult to predict the disease spread and the number of cases may go up and down in a cyclic manner as the virus is in post-pandemic stage. The disease went pandemic in the state in 2009 with 718 cases, which rose to 758 in the next year. In 2011, there was a substantial drop in the disease spread with only 11 cases reported in the state. Speaking to Express, T Geethaprasad, Nodal officer for Swine Flu and additional director of Medical and Health department, said the number of swine flu cases may go up further this year adding the next year would see a drop in number of cases again.  The spread of swine flu virus would go cyclic in an erratic manner this year as the disease in its post-pandemic phase and it is very difficult to predict the disease spread in such situation, she said.Geethaprasad said people above 45 years of age, who are being suffered with other diseases like asthma and diabetes, are more vulnerable to swine flu as they have weak immune system. Elderly people also are more prone to the disease for the same reason, Geethaprasad added.