Swine flu cases rise to 15 in Bareilly dist

Bareilly: The number of swine flu cases has been steadily rising in Bareilly since January and reached 15 on Friday. Most of the positive cases of H1N1 have been reported from urban areas of the district.
According to officials, a total of 46 samples of suspected cases were sent to a laboratory in Lucknow since January and of these, 15 patients tested positive.Out of these, five are children aged below eight years. Children are among high risk group. Of the remaining adults, seven women have tested positive.
Sources said of the total swine flu cases reported in the district, three patients are from Haldwani, Badaun and Pilibhit. Most of the patients diagnosed with swine flu in Bareilly are residents of urban areas while one is from Aonla.
Dr Vineet Shukla, chief medical officer, said, “Swine flu is a droplet infection and a highly contagious air-borne disease. As the virus spreads from one person to another, people should repeatedly wash their hands with soap as a precautionary measure. People with symptoms of H1N1 should maintain distance of at least one metre from other people. People should cover their nose and mouth while sneezing and coughing.”
The CMO reiterated that the health department has been actively campaigning to create awareness among public about the dos and don’ts by distributing pamphlets among people.
Dr Meesam Abbas, district epidemiologist who has been collecting samples of suspected cases, said, “The rate of mortality due to swine flu is low in the district but people should adopt all preventive measures.”
Officials said a woman who was posted as sub-registrar at Rampur’s Milak had succumbed to H1N1 while undergoing treatment on January 18. This was the first swine flu death in Bareilly this year. In December 2018, one swine flu death was reported, while 54 positive cases and three deaths were reported in 2017. In 2016, of the 10 positive cases, three had died while in 2015, 57 positive cases, including six deaths, were reported.