Pic: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi (MS)
Mangaluru, Oct 18: Four people have died in Dakshina Kannada (DK) district because of suspected influenza H1N1. In the district of Udupi, though 22 cases have been reported from August 1 to October 17, no deaths have taken place.
Giving the details of death in DK district, Dr M Ramakrishna Rao, District Health and Family Welfare Officer (DHO) said, "Abdullah (50), a resident of Vamanjoor was the first one to die due to H1N1. He had mild fever, cold and headache on September 17. He was treated in two hospitals in Mangaluru. His throat swabs showed positive to H1N! When the same were sent to authorized center at Manipal for confirmation. Abdullah died on October 3. Jameela (38), a resident of Halekote near Ullal was the second victim. She died on October 8. Avamma (50), a resident of Sajipanadu Bantwal died on October 10 and her daughter Jabeena (24) died on October 16, after three weeks of treatment at a hospital in Deralakatte."
Dr M Ramakrishna Rao
Dr Rao further clarified and said, "A detailed audit will be done on all the four deaths that have taken place in DK so far by the team which comprises myself, superintendent of Wenlock hospital, a physician, a pulmonologist and doctors who were involved in the treatment of the deceased people. The team is expected to complete its assessment by Monday, October 22."
According to the DHO, the increase in the cases of swine flu is quite common during the winter season. Out of the 359 people who have been tested since January 2018, 31 turned positive for H1N1 and four of them succumbed to the disease. He also said that a seminar will be conducted in coming days to create awareness among the public with regard to the treatment and precautions that need to be taken against the disease.
Dr Rao has asked the public not to panic and report any mild fever and cough to the nearest physician immediately. He further said that the anti-viral medicine for H1N1 should be taken only by people having high grade fever and the high risk category individuals which comprises of children, pregnant women and people above the age of 65.
In the district of Udupi, according to the details given by DHO Rohini, no deaths have been reported so far. 22 cases are recorded between August and October 17. Two cases were reported in the month of August, while seven and 13 cases were reported in the months of September and October respectively. In 2017, out of the 540 cases of H1N1 reported in the district six turned fatal.
Dr Rohini gave details on the awareness programme and said, "Our department has started awareness programme in the district. We have had meetings with village health and sanitation committees and also briefings with junior health assistants with regards to the dos and don’ts of H1N1 epidemic."