Capital sees rising number of swine flu cases

, March 15: Everyday the swine flu toll is increasing. On Friday, a total of 19 people tested positive for the virus. As of now, the total affected this year in the Capital is 1383.

"Nineteen more people tested positive for swine flu," said a doctor from Delhi Health Service. So far, 16 deaths have been reported in Delhi -one in January, 11 in February and four in March.

The city has seen a spurt in the Influenza A (H1N1 virus) cases this year. In 2012, only 78 swine flu cases and one death were reported.

In Gujarat, there are over 100 who have been infected this year while 103 deaths have been reported. They have had one of the highest swine- flu deaths in the country. Topping the list is Rajasthan which has had around 124 casualities. Incidentally, more women have been affected than men.

Many people from rural areas are catching the virus. However, many times, they just pass it off as a fever which is seasonal. "One of the biggest challenges for us is reforming general practitioners in villages and towns as they prescribe basic medicines to one-day old high fever cases instead of Tamiflu. We are also procuring Tamiflu syrups for children," a health official was quoted as saying.

"Apart from mobilizing and strengthening medical teams to promptly treat H1N1 cases to prevent complications, our focus is now prevention. Information communication drives are aiming that every person who gets fever should be consulting his doctor who rules out H1N1, especially in the affected communities and districts," principal health secretary P K Taneja was quoted saying.

According to media reports, Gujarat has reported 2,874 swine flu positive cases since its outbreak in 2009. In India, Maharashtra has reported 13,107 cases till date, which is the highest, followed by Delhi with 12,383 positive cases, while Gujarat ranks fifth.

OneIndia News (With inputs from IANS)