After one more patient-a French national-succumbed to Swine Flu on Sunday, the district health department reported four new cases of the disease on Monday. The chief medical officer (CMO) of Dehradun, Dr S K Gupta said that four cases of Swine flu have been reported positive on Monday after their swab samples were found positive for H1 N1 virus. He said that all the patients are now undergoing treatment at Mahant Indiresh Hospital. The patients thus being treated for the disease included one-year- old boy, a resident of Dunda block of Uttarkashi district.
With the new cases, the number of patients afflicted by H1 N1 virus this season in Dehradun district has mounted up to 19 out of whom nine patients have so far died. The CMO informed that five patients are presently undergoing treatment at Mahant Indiresh Hospital while two each are being treated at Max and Synergy hospitals.
On Sunday, a 72-year-old man, a resident of France living in Nalalpani area of the city for the past few months, had succumbed to Swine flu at Max Hospital.
The CMO further said that all the medical professionals have been asked to keep track of the suspected cases of the disease and inform them to the district health department promptly.
He added that all the hospitals have adequate supply of Tami flu (medicine of Swine flu) and triple layer masks.
The CMO said that since the disease spreads by droplet infection the people should cover their nose and face with handkerchief while sneezing or coughing and should regularly wash hands and face. Dr Gupta said one should immediately consult a doctor in case of consistent fever and breathlessness.
On an alert mode, following the outbreak of the disease, the health and education departments have also issued Swine flu advisory to the schools.
In the advisory, the schools have been asked to spread awareness among the students, parents and teachers about prevention of Swine flu during the assembly and parent- teacher meetings (PTM).
The school heads have been directed to advise the students to avoid direct exposure with the flu-affected patients. The schools have been asked to ensure that the students affected by the disease are dissuaded from attending classes.
“We are taking no chances regarding the disease,” said a senior state health department officer.