11 more positive cases of H1N1 spur govt into action

Health minister to hold review meeting with dist officers today

 With more and more people testing positive for H1N1 flu (swine flu) in Bengaluru and across the State, Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader has said he will interact with all District Health Officers (DHOs) via video conferencing on Monday on how to deal with the outbreak.

Eleven people tested positive for the flu in Bengaluru on Sunday alone. Nearly 20 people had tested positive for the flu across Karnataka on Saturday.

Three patients from Bengaluru — Ramakrishna, 49, Krishnaveni, 45, and Muniyellappa, 41 — died that day. Eleven new cases were reported on Sunday, raising the total number of positive cases to 106.

Five people have died of it in the City this month so far. Khader said the first meeting to discuss the measures to contain H1N1 was held a few days ago. “We will hold a review meeting on Monday as more cases have been reported,” he told Deccan Herald.

Sources in the health department said that at the previous meeting, the government had instructed health officials to brief it about fresh cases and measures undertaken to contain the disease.

Intensive camps

Meanwhile, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will conduct intensive awareness camps at all anganwadi centres, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), maternity hospitals and schools run by it from Monday onwards, its health officials said.

“At these camps, we will distribute pamphlets to people in all the198 wards in general, and schoolchildren in particular, to educate them about swine flu and measures to avoid contracting it,” said the BBMP’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Vatsala.

“People showing symptoms of flu such as cough, fever, etc will be referred to the Victoria Hospital and Nimhans for further tests and confirmation, if any.”

113 hospitals

The Palike runs 113 hospitals, including day care and referral hospitals. Medical Health Officers have reported five positive cases in the Palike limits so far, an official in the BBMP’s health department said.

Teen girl dies of H1N1

A 19-year-old girl died of H1N1 at a private hospital in Vijayapura on Sunday, reports DHNS.

Ashwini Jhalaki, from Baradola village in Indi a of the district, is the deceased. Two people have died of the flu in the district so far. A total of 10 people have been admitted to hospitals in the district after they tested positive for swine flu.