H1N1 2015 city’s worst outbreak

BHOPAL: One more swine flu death was reported from the state capital on Tuesday. According to sources in the health department, some 40 patients have died due to H1N1 influenza in the city since January 2015, making it the worst outbreak. In 2009, 39 people had died due to H1N1 infection.

Meanwhile, 16 new cases of H1N1 were detected, as state-level swine flu control state coordination committee assessed the outbreak situation. An estimated two dozen patients are on life support, in private and local hospitals in the city.

According to Hamidia hospital superintendent Dr DK Pal said a middle-aged, who tested positive for swine flu, died on Tuesday morning. Since January, more than 250 people have tested positive for H1N1 in Bhopal.

About 90,000 patients have been screened for H1N1, claimed a state government press release.

In the coordination committee meeting, principal secretary health Pravir Krishna informed that a total of 181 swine flu positive patients are undergoing treatment in hospitals across Madhya Pradesh. Some 545 screening centres in government run health centres are actively looking for people with H1N1 symptoms, it said

Three more diagnosed with swine flu, count reaches 30

Three more persons tested positive for H1N1 influenza on Thursday, taking the total number of cases in the state capital to 30. The patients who tested positive are residents of Gomti Nagar, South City and Aliganj.

Starting from Manasnagar, the swine flu has infected people in Para, Vikas Nagar, Alambagh, Gomti Nagar, PGI campus and Jail Road. Out of the total 30 cases, seven have been reported from PGI.

The first two patients to be diagnosed with swine flu had died, while 12 have been cured. Six others have shown improvement and the remaining 10 are under treatment at different hospitals and their homes in isolation. Of these, two are on ventilator support.

Experts say that since people from different areas are contracting the H1N1 infection, a mass awareness campaign is necessary to ensure they can detect the symptoms at an early stage, which is essential to save such patients. A team of medical experts has been visiting the patients to check their condition.

The health department has made arrangements in Balrampur, Civil and Lohia hospitals for those who have symptoms of swine flu. People can get themselves checked and avail medicine from these hospitals.