1 more dead, H1N1 toll reaches 20 in Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD: The spread of swine flu continued on third month for the state as one more death was reported on Friday, taking the total toll close to 100. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad inched closer to 1,000 patients with 993 patients admitted in first two months of 2019. The death toll for the city due to H1N1 is 20 at the end of February. According to a central government report, Gujarat ranks second in the country after Rajasthan in terms of H1N1 deaths due to swine flu this year.
According to the figures released by the state government, the city had recorded 213 cases and 2 deaths in January whereas in February, the numbers increased to 780 and 18 respectively. “A 54-year old woman, a resident of New Ambawadi, succumbed to the flu at the VS Hospital on Thursday, taking the toll to 20. All the hospitals have been asked to maintain a record of all the patients under treatment and those who also developed other symptoms to understand the health conditions associated with the seasonal flu,” said a health department official.

Epidemic branch of the health department mentioned that March 1 recorded 95 new cases of swine flu where Ahmedabad topped with 32 cases, followed by Bhavnagar (12), Junagadh (5) and Rajkot (4). As on March 1, 853 patients are still under treatment whereas 2,164 have been discharged after treatment.

“All precautions have been taken by the hospitals. We have been appealing to the citizens to exercise caution when they have symptoms such as fever, sore throat, chest compression and runny nose. Not all cases require hospitalization. So don’t panic and consult a nearby physician. We have adequate medicines and hospitalization facility across cities and towns,” said a health official, adding that extended period of cold this year has resulted in more reported cases.