Tamil Nadu to Examine H1N1 Vaccine for Elderly and Pregnant Women

CHENNAI — The Tamil Nadu government will examine the need to administer H1N1 vaccinations to vulnerable groups, including the elderly and pregnant women, Health Minister K G Arunraj announced in the state legislative assembly on Thursday.

Responding to queries raised by MLAs, Arunraj stated that H1N1 viral infections remain under control across the state. He urged the public not to panic, noting that the government is continuously monitoring the situation as other parts of the country, including Delhi and Karnataka, report increases in cases.

H1N1 is a subtype of the influenza-A virus that presents with symptoms such as fever, cough, and a sore throat. While many recover, the infection can progress to severe illness requiring hospitalisation and intensive care, particularly among vulnerable populations.

According to the health minister, while H1N1 infections were higher during the first four months of 2025, cases this year peaked between May and August. The state health department is tracking daily counts of fever, dengue, and H1N1 cases, along with related deaths and emerging disease clusters.

To ensure comprehensive monitoring, daily fever surveillance is currently being carried out across 5,805 government and private hospitals throughout the state.

Alongside viral monitoring, authorities are undertaking vector-control interventions. Arunraj noted that mosquito breeding sites are being systematically identified and eliminated, complemented by active measures to control adult mosquito populations to prevent concurrent vector-borne outbreaks.