Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Apr 26: In a worrying development, it has been observed that swine flu cases are steadily rising in Karnataka and other states. Since January this year, 1,428 H1N1 cases have been confirmed in Karnataka. The disease has accounted for 39 deaths so far this year.
During September last year, this infection had aggravated and by December, the situation was to a certain extent under control. During this year, on an average, between 100 and 110 new cases are being reported every week. In addition to Karnataka, states like Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have reported increase in the incidence of this disease.
The viruses of this disease proliferate in cold weather. Therefore naturally the infection has been more in Malnad area and the state capital. During the summer, when the climate is hot, the disease has come under control. As some parts of the state are experiencing rainfall now, these regions run the risk of witnessing the increased infection of swine flu. Therefore, health department officials have asked the people to be careful.
The disease is prevalent more in Malnad and coastal districts. 136 persons from Shivamogga have been infected this year so far and six have died. 25 cases were reported from Uttara Kannada district, in which five died. Mysuru accounted for 120 cases with four deaths whereas Udupi has 196 reported cases and Dakshina Kannada, 146.
Joint director of National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme, Shivaram Sajjan Shetty, says that meeting of all the district health officers with the help of video conferencing facility has been conducted relating to this issue, where the officials were asked to take needy measures to control the disease. Besides spreading awareness among the people about the disease, government hospitals have been asked to begin administering Tamiflu tablets forthwith without waiting for receipt of blood test reports. He has advised people to immediately get themselves tested for the presence of the disease if they suffer from symptoms of swine flu.