‘Gujarat has had third most H1N1 deaths in 2019’

AHMEDABAD: The death toll from swine flu in the country rose to 226 in the first 35 days of 2019, Union health ministry statistics show. Gujarat is the third worst affected state, 43 deaths and 898 cases, after Rajasthan and Delhi, which reported 2,263 and 1,011 cases respectively.

A total of 6,601 people tested positive for the disease in the country till Monday with 2,030 being infected in the last seven days, the ministry data revealed.
With the numbers rising, the health ministry has asked states to bolster surveillance and also keep beds reserved in hospitals to deal with cases needing ventilator facilities. An official said states have not yet made demands for drugs, diagnostic kits and resources to deal with the issue.
In 2018, India reported 14,992 cases of H1N1 and 1,103 deaths due to it. Gujarat in 2016 and 2017 reported 411 and 431 deaths, respectively. Isolation wards have been created at all major government hospitals and officials claim that awareness about symptoms such as cough, sneezing and sore throat has increased.
“Screening after symptoms are felt can help prevent the spread of the disease. It is not always necessary to be hospitalized, if the diagnosis is timely, the patient can recuperate in isolation at home as well. It is affecting pregnant women, children, the elderly and those with low immunity and these groups need to be more careful,” said a senior city-based health official.