BANGALORE: Following the recent death of a 43-year-old woman to H1N1 influenza, the State Health Department said it was well-prepared to tackle the virus attack with adequate stock of vaccines. On March 27, the victim died at a Hebbal- based private hospital, where she was admitted on March 24.
Mission Director of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Selva Kumar on Thursday said though a few private hospitals in Bangalore reported to have received H1N1 patients, they were only sporadic cases. However, he said the state was fully geared up and equipped with the adequate stock of vaccines to treat the disease. “Unlike previous years, this year, people are fully aware of the symptoms and treatment of the infection,” he said.
Joint Director (in-charge), Communicable Diseases of Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, Dr Chandrashekar said according to the Health Department, in 2011 there were 108 positive cases of swine flu and 16 deaths were reported, and in the current year 71 patients were tested H1N1 positive and three persons succumbed to the virus attack. Of the three, two were from Bangalore and one was from Chikballapur.
Speaking to Express, RGICD Director Dr Shashidhar Buggi said for the last three months nearly 260 persons were administered Tamiflu tablets, and 29 swab samples were sent to NIMHANS for testing. One among them was tested positive for H1N1.