With the number of COVID-19 cases fading away, other communicable diseases have started to make a comeback in the state of Maharashtra, such as influenza H1N1. At present, H1N1 has surged to the highest number in comparison to the last five years. On Monday, the data shared by the public health department revealed that the active cases of COVID have dropped by 54% over the last 40 days. However, other infectious diseases like H1N1 and dengue have kept hospitals and doctors on their toes for the past 3 months.

Dr. Subhash Salunkhe, a technical adviser on health matters with the state government, stated that the pandemic and the resultant lockdown had eliminated all transmission paths for diseases like dengue and TB. He also added that globally, a jump in communicable as well as non-communicable diseases has been seen with the decline in COVID. With nearly 3,000 cases reported so far, H1N1 has had the most virulent comeback compared to all other communicable diseases. Several experts and doctors have argued that the real burden of H1N1 incidence and deaths is not well known because the surveillance and testing for swine flu are incomparable to COVID testing.

According to a state official, H1N1 has followed a cyclic pattern since it appeared in 2009. Once there is a considerable immunity build-up in the community, cases decline only to resurface 1-2 years later. Therefore, Dr. Pradeep Awate, a state surveillance officer, claimed that H1N1 is also not as infectious as COVID. Therefore, the protocols dont require everyone to get tested. 

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/diagnostics/as-covid-graph-sees-a-dip-in-maharashtra-h1n1-cases-surge-to-5-year-high/94168722  )