Swine flu toll inches towards 1,500 while 26,000 affected

PTI NEW DELHI, March 10 [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he swine flu toll in the country has swelled to 1,482 while the number of affected persons crossed the 26,000-mark on Tuesday even as a minister in the Rajasthan government tested positive for the disease. The Union Health Ministry said that, as on March 9, the total number of deaths due to the H1N1 virus stands at 1,482 with as many as 26,455 people having been affected by the disease across the various states. Rajasthan Food and Civil Supplies Minister Hem Singh Bhadana tested positive for swine flu and is undergoing treatment. His sample was sent from Alwar on Sunday and health officials confirmed that he has been infected with the virus. Health Ministry data showed that the toll due to the disease was highest in Gujarat where 347 people have died while the number of affected persons was 5,715. The disease has claimed 343 lives in Rajasthan, whose total of 6,030 patients is the highest so far in the country. The toll stands at 221 while a total of 2,703 persons have come down with the disease in Maharashtra, where Bombay High Court today directed the state government to file an affidavit within four weeks on the measures it has taken to tackle the cases of swine flu. Madhya Pradesh has seen 201 deaths and registered 1,608 cases of the disease. Meanwhile, Health Ministry officials said that the figure today also includes the deaths which occurred in Delhi this year of people belonging to various other states. These figures have been updated in the cumulative total in the ministry’s data, officials said.

22 samples from Nagaland sent for test

Till date 22 samples from Nagaland have been sent to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dibrugarh. Out of which 4 tested positive while one case was diagnosed at Delhi. All these cases are imported from other states. This was informed by the State Nodal Officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (H & FW) Nagaland. The epidemiological and behavioural pattern suggests that the epidemic in Nagaland is currently under control. However, the public are requested to remain alert, keep informed and follow all safety measures till such time the situation is completely under control. Currently the foci of the epidemic seem to be concentrated mainly in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi. Advisory to the people: 1. Students/ family members studying or staying outside the state especially in the above mentioned states should be advised to follow all precautionary measures. 2. Those people travelling out of the State due to unavoidable circumstances should strictly follow safety measures like wearing surgical mask, good hygiene, good sleep, good diet and plenty of fluids. 3. Travellers commuting to Nagaland from outside should maintain vigil of their health and report to the nearest Health Institution at the earliest (if they develop symptoms of cough and cold with fever). 4. Due to changes in weather condition, the public are advised to avoid exposure to dust and pollution (especially people suffering from Chronic Asthma, any underlying respiratory disorders, Immune deficiency disorders, pregnant women, Children below 5 years of age and persons with organ transplants etc. who are considered under High Risk category) 5. Vaccination is recommended for the High Risk Category people after consulting with Medical Practitioners. 6. Please contact the Chief Medical Officer, Medical Supt. District Hospitals of respective district for any query or assistance. 7. Should there be any query , the department of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland can be reached at State Surveillance Unit, IDSP(DHFW) Kohima, Nagaland : 1. Help Line – 08413095255 2. Email : nlssu.idsp@nic.in This was stated in a press release issued by State Nodal Officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (H & FW) Nagaland. (DIPR) A Naga girl from Kohima is reported to have tested positive for H1N1 in Guwahati recently. According to department sources today, the girl had traveled to Guwahati with her ailing mother for treatment at a hospital there when she developed symptoms of cough and cold. Her samples were sent to the Gauhati Medical College and had apparently tested positive. "However, we have just confirmed that the patient has been treated in Guwahati itself and is now cured," the sources informed.