Over 400 died of swine flu in 7 yrs in division: RTI

Nagpur: Over 400 people, out of the 1,845 who tested positive for swine flu, have died in the last seven years in Nagpur division. This year, 108 have succumbed to the disease while 569 have tested positive so far.

In 2016, only two people had died of the H1N1 influenza. The sudden jump in positive cases this year is being attributed to the several festivals falling in the same month as well as lack of precautions. In 2015, the disease had claimed 178 people out of 790 positive cases with maximum fatalities being reported in February, March and October.

This year, the virus has been most active since March with 229 cases and 34 deaths recorded in September alone. The data was provided by the deputy director of health office following an RTI query filed by activist Abhay Kolarkar.

Deputy Director (Health) Sanjay Jaiswal said public participation is must in tackling contagious diseases like swine flu. He claimed that public awareness created regarding dengue helped minimize the impact of the killer disease in the region.

"September recorded the highest number of swine flu deaths this year. There were several festivals and people failed to take necessary precautions. We have been asking citizens to immediately take precautionary steps in case of cold and cough. Since very few swine flu cases were reported in 2016, people may have ignored these warnings," he said.

Jaiswal also said that since new virus keeps developing deadlier strains, it is imperative that everyone takes hygiene seriously.

In the last three years, over 1,000 cases of gastro and 48 of hepatitis were reported while only three, including one from city, died during this period.

Kolarkar had also sought information regarding deaths and cases of waterborne diseases in the six districts comprising of Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, and Wardha in the division.

Infographics

HEAD: Swine flu cases

March 2010 to Oct 2017

Positive| 1,845

Deaths | 434

2015

Positive | 790

Deaths | 178

2016

Positive | 8

Deaths | 2

2017

Positive | 569

Deaths | 108