2 more succumb to swine flu

Hyderabad: Two more women died of swine flu creating panic among people in Hyderabad. With this, the toll rises to four during the past two weeks. Reports of more people getting admitted to various hospitals continue to pour in.

Five new cases were reported on Monday, three from Hyderabad and one from Ranga Reddy and one from YSR Kadapa district. A total of 18 cases have been reported till now in Hyderabad alone.

Fifty-nine-year-old Renuka and 25-year-old Rekha, who were admitted to Gandhi hospital on Monday, were diagnosed to be suffering from swine flu.

Shake Ghouse (50) from YSR Kadapa district, who was admitted to Sunshine Hospital and Ch Srnivas (49) admitted to Geeta Multi Specialty Hospital at Nagole and Dhanalakshmi (37) admitted in a private hospital, were diagnosed with swine flu, according to Dr D Sri Harsha, Hyderabad District Surveillance Officer.

Meanwhile, 60-year-old Anees Begum, who was admitted to Global Hospital, LB Nagar, died on Friday and Swarupa (65) of Mahabubnagar, who was admitted to Gandhi hospital, died on Saturday.In a media statement, the Principal Secretary of Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department, said that out of 158 samples tested from September 1-12, 25 were found positive.

Sufficient stock of medicines is available at all the teaching hospitals, district hospitals and area hospitals. There are enough testing kits and kits for Viral Transport Medium (VTM). Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) is also providing free testing services to all in-patients from private hospitals, he said.

Citizens have been advised to take precautions such as reporting to the hospital on the first symptoms of Swine flu like high fever, sneezing, cough and body pain. Citizens are also advised to avoid going to crowded places, clean their hands as frequently as possible, avoid hand shaking, cover nose/mouth while sneezing and coughing.

Hospitals have also been advised that as and when the patient comes with symptoms of swine flu, the patient should be medically examined and in case, it is a suspected case of swine flu, the patient should be admitted, isolated and blood samples be sent to IPM along with full address and contract number.

In case, a patient is not willing to get admitted to a private hospital, the patient should be shifted to Gandhi Hospital. The hospitals were also advised to take all the steps to isolate suspected cases of swine flu.Homoeopathy doctors also have been urged to help citizens in getting homoeo medicine as a preventive measure. Medicine is available free of cost in Government Homeo Hospital, Ramanthapur and at all AYUSH Dispensaries.