8 more succumb to A(H1N1)

Centre calls states meet to chalk out strategy for the pandemic

According to the latest H1N1 statistics from the Central government, the influenza-A (H1N1) killed eight more – four in Bangalore and two each in Pune and Delhi – in the last 24 hours. As many as 159 positive cases were reported on Thursday, most of which came from Pune (66) and Mumbai (18).

The virus has spread to new areas in Karnataka as the virus was reported from Bangalore (13), Davanagere (3), Hubli (2) and Gadag (1). The cumulative H1N1 count is 2,401 including 36 deaths on Thursday. The World Health Organisation reported a global toll 1,799 deaths till August 13. The virus has been reported from 178 countries.

On Friday, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad will discuss strategies like involving private sector in test and treatment, separating patients according to the severity of their symptoms and spreading awareness about the disease with his counterparts from various states.

The WHO has done away with the pre-requisite of laboratory tests before initiating Tamiflu treatments for symptomatic patients in India where the H1N1 virus has established itself in the community.

“This is the first wave. Subsequent waves are expected,” said Jai P Narain, head of the communicable disease programme at the WHO’s south east Asian regional office.

DH News Service