H1N1 claimed 320 lives in State

Among the southern states, death toll highest in Karnataka

As many as 320 people in Karnataka have lost their lives to H1N1 (swine flu) from the time it was first detected in the country in May 2009.

Accounting for 12 per cent of H1N1 deaths in the country, Karnataka has lost more number of people than Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

Maharashtra, which accounts for 34 per cent of the deaths, saw 1,883 people lose their lives to the virus.

However, the number of cases detected in Maharastra (11,433) is much higher than the number detected in Karnataka (4,547).

Between May 2009 and December 2009, 1,872 cases were detected in the State and 138 people, including 78 women, died of the disease.

During the same period, 981 persons, including those from Karnataka, were reported dead in the country while 27,236 cases were detected.

In the period between January 2010 and December 2010, 116 people died in the State of the 2,575 cases detected while the nation-wide figures stood at 1,763 and 10,604, respectively.

Similarly, 12 people died of the 100 cases detected in Karnataka between January 2011 and December 2011.

A total of 603 cases were detected in the country and 75 persons lost their lives during this period.

“The State government is doing everything to contain the spread of the virus, including creating awareness about the symptoms of the H1N1 and we are committed to enhance the availability of Oseltamivir, the antiviral drug as well,” a senior official from the health department said.

Another official pointed out that laboratory-based surveillance is continuing to detect recurrence of the influenza and that a national network of 45 laboratories, including 19 private labs, is available to test samples.

Advisory to states

The Centre, in its advisory to the states, had recommended that they identify hospitals and isolation facilities, which could be put to use if there is a recurrence.
Also, four Indian companies––Serum Institute, Panacea Bio-tech, Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadilla–– have the capacity to manufacture the H1N1 vaccine even at  short notice.

In the last year alone, the Centre has spent Rs 105 crore on the procurement of 390 lakh Oseltamivir capsules, Rs  16 crore on buying four lakh units of Oseltamivir syrup and Rs 51.50 crore on the purchase of 15 lakh doses of the pandemic vaccine.

However, notwithstanding the measures being put in place by the State government, around 164 cases were reported this year and eight persons have lost their lives.
Compared to Karnataka, Tamil Nadu reported only 24 deaths since May 2009 although as many as 3,280 cases were detected.

In Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, 102 and 131 persons were reported dead respectively.  A total of 1,521 cases were detected in Andhra, while the number stood at 3,322 in Kerala.