Div’s swine flu death rate 4 times more than natl avg

Nagpur: The death rate due to swine flu in Nagpur division is four times more than the average of the entire country, the latest data by the state government has revealed.

According to the state government, there is a strong surveillance system in Maharashtra because of which maximum number of cases is being reported.

Altogether 37,107 cases of swine flu have been reported in the country so far this year, of which 2,025 people have died. Accordingly, the death rate of the county due to the deadly virus is 5.45%.

As per the state public health department, there have been 569 positive cases in Nagpur division till October 18, of which 108 patients (18.98%) have died. Of these cases, 289 were from Nagpur city, of which 42 people (14.53%) succumbed to the virus.

State surveillance officer Dr Pradip Awate said, "It would not be fair to go by statistics. Since swine flu came into existence here in the last nine years, Maharashtra has been reporting largest number of positive cases and deaths."

"Here, each and every case is reported. Without hiding, we try to report maximum cases with our robust system. Every state government would accept this thing about Maharashtra," said Awate.

"While a state like Madhya Pradesh has 3-4 labs, Maharashtra has 23 labs which diagnose swine flu. Currently, 18 private labs have been approved for influenza diagnosis, while there are five government-run labs," he said.

These government-run labs provide free diagnostic facility at National Institute of Virology (Pune), The Haffkine Institute for Training, Research and Testing (Mumbai) and Kasturba Hospital at Mumbai. There are two labs in Vidarbha — Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) and Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Akola.

Intensivist Dr Deepak Jeshwani said, "If we look at the deaths, one could notice a pattern. Most of them would belong to other districts and state, mostly MP and Chhattisgarh, who could not reach the city on time."

On the lines of public health department, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is also sitting pretty despite steep rise in swine flu cases. Municipal commissioner Ashwin Mudgal held a meeting with the officials on October 5 and urged people not to panic stating that swine flu is curable through medicines. He also appealed to the citizens to get done test from the NMC's 11 screening centres in case of any symptoms.

On July 27, health minister Dr Deepak Sawant announced setting up of a committee in all cities to review deaths due to swine flu and initiate measures for its control. The committee set up by the NMC is yet to hold even a single meeting.