Mysuru: There is a sharp increase in number of positive H1N1 cases in Mysuru district. While last year five H1N1 positive cases were identified between January to December and no deaths were reported, this year in a span of mere 50 days 27 positive cases and two deaths have been reported in the district.

The two who succumbed to the dreaded ailment are from Mysuru city. On February 18, a 23-year-old Reshma, pregnant woman from Kumbarkoppal succumbed to H1N1 in Mysuru. After two days 70-year-old Prabhakar from Gayathri Layout became the second person to die. Both were admitted based on H1N1 symptoms. District health authorities had sent 78 suspected samples to NIMHAS in Bengaluru were the tests to ascertain H1N1 positive cases. Out of the total samples a romping 27 persons have been tested positive for the same.The increase in H1N1 cases in the district has put district health officials on toes.

All the 27 H1N1 patients are undergoing treatment at private hospital and their condition is stable. In 2015, the district reported 118 positive H1N1 cases including five deaths.

Deputy Commissioner D Randeep after seeing increase in number of H1N1 cases in the district called upon health officials including heads from private hospitals to take stock of the situation. During the meeting Dr B Basavaraj, District Health Officer and Dr Kusuma, District Surveillance Officer, briefed Deputy Commissioner about the measures taken by the district health department and availability of ventilators. In Mysuru district, apart from KR Hospital, which has 26 ventilators, no other government hospitals has got ventilators. Among 26 ventilators, two ventilators are kept exclusively to treat H1N1 patients.

Dr Basavaraj, district health officer said “The employees of health department are conducting survey to find people showing H1N1 symptoms. House to house surveillance and awareness through distribution of pamphlets has been taken up.

Do’s

-Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when coughing and sneezing

-Regularly wash hands with soap and water

-Dispose off used tissue properly immediately after use

-If you have flu-like symptoms, seek medical advice immediately

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Don’ts

-If you have Flu-like symptoms, confine yourself at home.

-If you have Flu-like symptoms, Avoid crowded places.

-Avoid hugging, kissing and shaking hands when greeting.

-Don’t touch eyes nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

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Symptoms

-Cough, Fever, sore throat, Nausea Vomiting, Diarrhea, Fatigue Chills, Headache and body ache.