The Health authorities have confirmed one case of H1N1 (swine flu) and two suspected deaths in the district.
One case that came in as a referral to a private hospital here from West Asia was confirmed on Monday, said District Medical Officer Haseena Mohammed.
However, the two deaths in a private hospital in the district interiors could not be confirmed as the hospital authorities had failed to inform the District Medical Officer.
The district Health authorities have increased the surveillance for the disease and have asked private hospitals to step up the H1N1 scrutiny and to report all suspected cases.
It was the inquiries into two deaths reported in the newspapers that led to the suspicion that it could have been swine flu, said Dr. Mohammed. The symptoms presented by the patients could be of H1N1, but there could be other disease complications as well, she said. Since no tests could be conducted, the cases are inconclusive.
However, it was the description of symptoms that led to label them as suspected H1N1 cases. Medicines for treating H1N1 are available in the district, said Dr. Mohammed. Diagnosis can be confirmed with a blood test.
