With four people succumbing to swine flu virus in the past one week, the district medical and health officials are keeping a close vigil on any suspected outbreak across the Kurnool district. On Tuesday, two persons, who tested positive for the H1N1 virus, died while undergoing treatment at the Government General Hospital in Kurnool.
A preliminary check up of Sanjay and Srinivasulu, who were admitted with some health issues, indicated that they had the symptoms. They died undergoing treatment.
Kurnool GGH Superintendent Dr. P. Chandrasekhar told The Hindu that another person Nagendra Prasad, who had displayed comorbidity linked to kidney-related issues, also tested positive and died undergoing treatment on Saturday.
“Sabira Begum (55) from Nandikotkur area of Kurnool district died on Friday while undergoing treatment. She was one of the two positive cases admitted to the hospital at that time,” he added.
With respect to the prevailing conditions, Dr. Chandrasekhar said two patients had been admitted to the ‘isolation ward’, after testing positive. One of them Yashoda of Gadwal in Telangana had been to the Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad to meet a relative affected by swine flu. The second patient Ramesh (20) from Dhone mandal of Kurnool district also was undergoing treatment. The hospital officials are awaiting the results of a suspected case.
Dr. Chandrasekhar said they had sufficient drugs to ensure proper treatment and had set up five rooms in the ‘Isolation Ward’. The authorities were also making sure that the family members/attenders of the patients undergo treatment with prophylactics. District Medical and Health Officer J.V.V.R.K. Prasad said they had prepared special pamphlets, highlighting various aspects of the virus and the precautions to be taken, ensuring that they reached the nook and corner of the district. He also said there was no shortage of medicines, masks, testing kits etc. and that mobile testing areas were being set up in Kurnool, Nandyal, Adoni and Mantralayam.
Saying there was no need for alarm, Dr. Prasad urged the denizens to take appropriate precautions. “Swine Flu manifests itself with typical flu-like symptoms and if such conditions do not come down in a few days despite medication, people should approach the nearby hospital,” he said. On Wednesday, S.V. Mohan Reddy, MLA, and others inspected the arrangements at the Kurnool GGH.
3 fresh cases
Special Correspondent from Visakhapatnam adds:
The number of swine flu cases identified in the district, so far, has gone up to 12, with three more cases reported in the last two days.
Dr. Indira Devi, Swine flu Nodal Officer, KGH, said that a woman patient, who was admitted to the KGH with other complications, tested positive for swine flu and was shifted to the Government Hospital for Chest Diseases (GHCD).
Dr. G. Sambasiva Rao, Superintendent, GHCD, said that five patients were undergoing treatment at the hospital for swine flu and their condition was stable. District Collector Pravin Kumar had said at a review meeting a few days ago that nine swine flu cases have been identified in the district.
