Mumbai has reported a nearly threefold increase in H1N1 cases during the first six months of 2026, with 113 cases recorded between January and mid-July compared with 41 cases during the same period in 2025, according to data released by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) health department. Clinicians attributed the rise to erratic weather patterns, with fluctuations in temperature and persistent humidity creating favorable conditions for viral transmission. While most H1N1 infections have remained mild, hospitals reported more severe illness among adults older than 60 years and individuals with underlying comorbidities, with some patients requiring ventilator support.
The increase in H1N1 cases has coincided with a rise in other infectious diseases during the same period. According to BMC data, malaria cases increased from 3,115 to 3,681, dengue cases from 734 to 938, and…
