Swine flu toll increases to 12, 78 test positive

Nagpur: Swine flu (H1N1) cases are on the rise in the region. The disease has claimed 12 lives this year so far of which 10 deaths occurred in the last 48 days. Apart from this, 78 persons have been tested positive for the disease and 68 of them were detected in just a month-and-a-half. A majority of the patients treated for the disease were brought in to the city from parts of Vidarbha and adjoining states.
As per Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) records, two deaths and 10 positive cases were recorded till August end.Since then, there is sudden spurt in the cases.
Of the total 12 deaths, nine patients were from other districts of Vidarbha and adjoining states and remaining three from the city. Similarly, 52 of the total 78 positive cases this year were from other districts of Vidarbha and adjoining states and the remaining 26 from the city limits.
NMC’s medical officer (epidemic) Dr Sunil Ghurde told TOI that vaccination for swine flu has been started from August this year and it continues. “Patients in high risk category (having high blood pressure and diabetes) and pregnant women are being vaccinated and administered Tami Flu,” he said.
Ironically, despite increasing number of cases, the NMC or the state government has not taken any initiative to prevent spread of this disease. Swine flu is very contagious and spreads from person-to-person by airborne droplets expelled from the respiratory tract during coughing or sneezing.
The NMC has no idea behind sudden spurt in swine flu cases from last month. The rise in cases has baffled experts as most of the cases were reported from March onwards last year with 28 positive cases being detected between March 3 and 31. Around 350 positive cases were registered last year, which was highest-ever. Of the total patients, 40 had died.