Kerala influenza deaths have climbed to 120 so far in 2026, nearly three times the 43 deaths the state recorded in the whole of 2025, The New Indian Express reported on Monday, 5 October 2026. The state also logged 11,319 influenza cases up to 3 October, raising fresh public health concerns.
Kerala influenza deaths rise sharply in recent months
Most of this year’s deaths are recent. According to the report, 110 of the 120 deaths were recorded in the past four months. Of the 11,319 cases, 145 were reported in just the first three days of October.
Doctors linked the spike to a mix of factors. “The combination of heavy rains, humidity and crowded social gatherings during Onam meant the disease spread to more people,” said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, convenor of the state IMA Research Cell. He added that the surge is not specific to Kerala, with Delhi and other states also reporting cases.
Kochi-based pulmonologist Dr Sunny P Orethel said wider testing is also pushing up the numbers, as most hospitals now test fever patients for influenza. Once the cause is identified, he said, doctors can prescribe the right antiviral medicines.
H1N1 dominates flu samples in India
The Kerala figures fit a wider national pattern. News18 reported on 5 October that WHO surveillance for 1 to 14 September 2026 found the A(H1N1)pdm09 strain in 75 per cent of influenza-positive samples in India, well above the regional average of 50 per cent for South-East Asia.
Older adults, young children, pregnant women and people with underlying illnesses face the highest risk of complications from influenza.
Vaccination gap under scrutiny
Experts said low immunisation coverage is one reason for the rising death toll. Dr Orethel said the annual flu vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccine can help prevent complications, and recommended them for people above 60 and those with diabetes, cancer, or kidney and liver disease. He said the number of people seeking vaccination in the state has risen.
An expert committee led by Dr B Ekbal, set up in November 2022 to draft a new immunisation policy, had proposed mandatory flu vaccination for people aged 65 and above. According to the report, no action has been taken on that recommendation.
Doctors have advised vaccination, respiratory hygiene and timely testing and treatment, particularly for people in high-risk groups.
Source: The New Indian Express; News18
Photo: Adnan Haleem / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
Today’s News 6 Oct 2026 · 30 stories
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16Kerala influenza deaths reach 120 this year, nearly triple 2025’s tollOct 6, 2026 · Reading now
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