Number of swine flu patients has been increasing in the city unabatedly. About 10 more patients tested positive on Wednesday. With this, fresh positive cases of swine flu reached 146. The disease has claimed 40 lives since January this year. Many patients are under treatment in local hospitals while reports of 32 patients are pending.
The increasing number of deaths has put health department in tight spot whose officials failed to control the disease. Chief medical and health officer Dr Pravin Jadia said, “We are making efforts to control the disease but people are ignoring its causes and symptoms. They are reaching hospitals late for treatment.” He said children, old people, pregnant women and people suffering from other major ailments are more prone to disease and should take extra care specially if cold and cough persist.
Divisional Commissioner Akash Tripathi has directed officials to keep track of all patients along with taking follow-up of patients suffering from severe cough and cold. He directed CMHO to act against five hospitals, which discharged swine flu patients without treating them further.
People at higher risk if H1N1
* Children aged 6 months up to 15 years
* Pregnant women
* People 50 years of age and above
* People of any age with certain medical conditions such as heart or lung disease (asthma, COPD, emphysema), diabetes or those with weak immune system
Swine flu figures
Total samples sent: 641
Total positive: 146
Total deaths: 40
Reports pending: 32
