The health department on Tuesday sent swab samples of 29 suspected patients of H1N1 to Bhopal for confirmation of the disease. The weather fluctuation causes H1N1 virus to multiply. The virus causes swine flu. Only two patients tested positive for H1N1 in January this year. One of them had died due to disease. In all, the department has sent 223 swab samples to Bhopal this year.
The city is already reeling under dengue outbreak as 177 patients have tested positive since January this year. “Current weather conditions are conducive for H1N1 virus as the day and night temperature is fluctuating frequently. People should take special care of pregnant women and children as they possess low immunity,” Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme nodal officer Dr Asha Pandit said.
She said the best way to prevent the disease is to take precautions and avoid people suffering from cough and cold as disease transmits through air. Hospitals across the city are receiving number of patients most of whom suffer from viral disease. “Large numbers of patients are visiting hospitals due to cough, cold and viral fever. Patients with body ache are also increasing,” physician Dr Mahendra Jha said.
Day temp rises
With change in wind pattern again, day temperature soared past 30 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. City recorded maximum temperature of 30.4 degrees Celsius, which was two degrees below normal. The day temperature was close to 25 degrees Celsius three days ago. The night temperature, which hovered around 20 degrees Celsius earlier, increased to 22 degrees Celsius, which was normal.
1 more dengue patient identified
One more dengue patient was indentified on Tuesday, which took the total number of positive patients to 177. The fresh case of dengue relates to 31-year-old male patient, resident of Khatiwala Tank. He has been discharged from the hospital.