More swine flu cases

With 11 new swine flu cases were reported from the Capital on Friday, the total number of positive swine flu cases has touched 74 in the last two months. HT reports

With 11 new swine flu cases were reported from the Capital on Friday, the total number of positive swine flu cases has touched 74 in the last two months.

HT Image

“Delhi received its first case of swine flu this season on June 10, after a long hiatus of almost four months,” said Dr Debashish Bhattacharya, nodal officer for swine flu appointed by the Delhi government.

“So far, there have been seven deaths due to swine flu in Delhi hospitals five of the dead were Delhi residents and the other two were residents of Haryana and Bihar,” he said, adding, “There is nothing to worry as the cases are not as high as they were last year. In fact, the wild strain of the deadly virus has died a natural death and now what we have in the air is a milder strain.”

“We are aware that the swine flu cases are on a rise. While we have alerted all hospitals, we still feel there is no reason to panic,” said Kiran Walia, Delhi health minister.

A daughter of a senior resident doctor from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) was among the 11 new cases tested positive on Friday. “The senior resident and his wife also reported symptoms of swine flu but their reports are awaited,” said a doctor at AIIMS.

“All the three have been kept in isolation in the hostel room itself and anti viral treatment has started. So far, none of them are critical,” he said.