4 swine flu deaths in Punjab this winter

Chandigarh, Jan 21: Four persons, including a woman, have died of swine flu in Punjab this winter even as the authorities geared up to tackle H1N1 influenza virus infection.

"Till now, in this winter season, four patients have died of swine flu," Punjab state nodal officer for swine flu Gagandeep Singh Grover said. The deceased belong to Amritsar, Patiala, Moga and Muktsar, he said.

A total of 66 samples were sent for test, "of which 12 samples were tested positive for the influenza," he said.

He said an advisory has been issued to hospitals, both government as well as private, to provide immediate treatment to suspected patients without conducting tests. Asked whether the number of patients has risen because of cold conditions prevailing in the region, he said that the influx of patients has not been observed so far.

Sufficient stock of Tamiflu drug has been made available to all the hospitals in the state, he said.

"This time, we are covering all the villages for providing medicine to the patients," he added.

The government has already asked people not to ignore symptoms like high temperature along with cough, cold and problem in breathing and that they should immediately report to their nearest health centre for treatment.

PTI