Haryana reports 23 deaths, Delhi three; Delhi government issues advisory to hospitals to ensure availability of isolation wards, medicines
The Indian government has finally woken up to the dangers of H1N1 influenza virus after a series of swine flu deaths. The governments of the states most affected by the virus have now issued advisory to control the pandemic.
In Delhi 57 cases of swine flu have been reported since January. Five out of these have been reported this week. Out of these five patients, three succumbed to the flu after developing respiratory complications, say health officials. Meanwhile, 23 deaths have also been reported in the neighboring state of Haryana since January.
Five doctors of the Government Medical College and Hospital in Chandigarh have also fallen victim to the deadly virus and have tested positive for H1N1 virus. Haryana surveillance officer Kamala Singh says total 78 patients have been diagnosed with the dreaded disease since January.
About the precautionary measures, she says all authorities in all hospitals have been put on alert. If any patient is found showing swine flu-like symptoms, the person is put under 48 hours of continuous surveillance at his or her residence. Contact numbers of senior health officers have been circulated and people have been asked to call if they suspect they have contracted swine flu, says Singh. Delhi state government,too, has issued an advisory to all the hospitals in Delhi to follow the required H1N1 protocol to ensure the availability of isolation wards and sufficient medicines for treating swine flu patients.
The disease was at its most virulent when it initially spread in 2009. Till May 2010, 1,035 people in India had died of it and more than 10,000 were infected.
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