The state government's public health department has reported 13 swine flu deaths between January and first week of February. While more cases are found in the Vidarbha region, a handful of cases are reported in Mumbai too, stated state surveillance officer. So far over 145 cases of swine flu have been reported since January 2019 till date.
In Chinchpokli's Kasturba Hospital, a civic-run infectious diseases hospital, few patients from outside Mumbai were admitted for swine flu treatment in this year.
"We do get patients in all seasons. Since January this year, we had got few swine flu cases which were admitted as well as treated on OPD basis. These cases were from outside Mumbai," said a medical officer from Kasturba Hospital.
Around 1.77 lakh people across the state have been screened for swine flu in January, out of which around 1764 patients were diagnosed with swine flu-like illness.
Dr Pradip Awte, state surveillance officer, said, "Around 197 confirm cases of swine flu has been diagnosed and given treatment in the state and 13 patients have died. There are around seven deaths in Vidarbha region, four in
Nagpur and two in Kolhapur. In Mumbai, approximately five to seven cases are found. Most of the cases are found in Vidarbha region."
There can be further increased in the number of patients to be diagnosed with the disease.
"The regular precautionary measures are taken in the state. It is not the first time that swine flu cases are diagnosed in Maharashtra in January," added Dr Awte.
Swine flu is caused by the H1N1 virus. Its symptoms include fever, cough, body ache, nasal secretions, headache, fatigue, loose motions, and weakness. High-risk group people including pregnant women, senior citizens, kidney ailment and others who have a little weak immune system are given heavy vaccination.
According to the epidemiology cell of BMC, there are no swine flu cases reported with them.
IN NUMBERS
- A majority of the cases reported from Vidarbha
- 145 swine flu cases reported since January 2019
- 197 people with swine flu diagnosed
- 1.77 lakh screened for swine flu across state in Jan
