Swine flu toll reaches 26

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 8

The number of deaths due to H1N1 (swine flu) have reached 26 in the state and the total number of confirmed cases are 57.

In a press release, state Health and Family Welfare Minister, Surjit Kumar Jyani, said most patients found to be H1N1 positive were being treated by private doctors for some time and were referred to specialist centres only when their condition deteriorated.

The Health Department said sufficient quantities of medicine had been procured and distributed to the districts. The state government has also constituted a state-level advisory committee under the chairmanship of Dr D Behera (PGIMER) to review the situation. He will also give recommendations on the prevention and control of H1N1.

About 1 lakh capsules of Oseltamivir 75 mg (Tamiflu), 2,000 capsules of Oseltamivir 30 mg, 2,000 Oseltamivir syrup bottles have been made available in all government hospitals.

These medicines will also be available at government medical colleges, district hospitals and community health centres.