8 swine flu deaths reported from city this season

Tribune News Service
Bathinda, February 22

As many as 608 swine flu cases of B-category (moderate symptoms of H1N1) have been reported in the district this season so far. In C-category, out of 48 patients, 18 were confirmed positive for the virus. As per health department records, eight patients died of swine flu this season.

Dr Hari Narain Singh, Civil Surgeon, Bathinda, said, “Doctors have started tamiflu tablets for the swine flu patients of B-category. For the C-category patients, lab tests were conducted to confirm the presence of the virus.”

Asked about the number of deaths due to swine flu in the district, Dr Singh said, “So far, eight deaths have been reported in the district and there were other deaths due to co morbidity and actual cause of their deaths can only be known after getting the autopsy done.”

Meanwhile, patients with swine flu (suspected as well as confirmed cases) kept coming to the Civil Hospital for treatment. Doctors said due to rain and subsequent drop in temperature levels, patients of swine flu are still visiting private as well as government hospitals in the district.

Notably, Opposition party leaders alleged on Wednesday that the Health Department was concealing the data regarding swine flu deaths in the state and it did not have infrastructure to deal with the viral flu.Sources said in the absence of adequate medical infrastructure, including ventilators, the swine flu ward at the Civil Hospital is still lying locked as a result swine flu patients (confirmed positive cases) have been visiting private hospitals for treatment who in turn charge them exorbitant fee.