H1N1: 127 cases, 9 deaths in Gujarat so far this year

AHMEDABAD: Influenza caused by the H1N1 strain, or swine flu, has claimed four lives at Civil Hospital this September. Hospital authorities say there is no cause for alarm, but they are taking due care to raise awareness about the need to seek timely treatment in affected areas and are providing the medicines required to primary health centres (PHC) and community health centres (CHC) across the state.
According to state health authorities, there were 237 H1N1 deaths and 2,287 recorded patients in India in 2018.Gujarat has had nine deaths and 127 patients. The deaths are mainly recorded in cities due to availability of tertiary healthcare facilities, which patients are referred to. Civil Hospital is getting a high number of patients from Aravalli and Mahisagar districts and parts of eastern Ahmedabad.
“We stress on early detection of symptoms. The right course of treatment is as important as flu is treatable and the high recovery rate is proof,” said Dr Kamlesh Upadhyay, professor and head of the department of medicine at BJ Medical College.