Three deaths in district last week due to suspected H1N1

Three persons have died of suspected swine flu-H1N1, a seasonal influenza in Dakshina Kannada during the past week. While two were from a family in Sajipanadu in Bantwal, the third patient was from Ullal.

According to the office of the District Health and Family Welfare Officer, 50-year-old Avvamma of Sajipanadu died in her house on October 10 after taking treatment for swine flu in a private hospital. Her daughter, Jabeena (22), who was undergoing treatment for H1N1 in the private hospital, died on October 15. In the other case, a 38-year-old woman from Ullal died in a private hospital on October 9.

District Health and Family Welfare Officer (DHO) Ramakrishna Rao said that a panel of experts was studying the medical reports of the three deaths.

He said that a total of 359 persons in Dakshina Kannada were screened in the last 10 months of which 29 were found positive for H1N1. While only three positive H1N1 cases were reported between January and August, 12 cases were reported in September, followed by 14 in October.

Dr. Rao said that the department has carried out an extensive campaign across the district to create awareness on the precautions to be taken to avoid H1N1 infection. Those with mild fever, cough or sore throat have been urged to confine themselves in their houses and get symptomatic treatment. Infected people have been advised to avoid mixing up with others.

The DHO said that Tamiflu or Oseltamivir, an anti-viral medicine, was available across hospitals in the district. These tablets should be given to those with high fever. The department was closely monitoring infected persons admitted in hospitals, he said.