New Delhi, Feb 7: Three persons have died of swine flu virus in the last three days in Delhi, and at least 57 persons have been taken ill, the Delhi government said.
The H1N1 influenza virus, which took epidemic proportions three years ago, is back.
A large number of people have flocked to pathology labs and hospitals seeking blood tests to locate H1N1 virus. The fever occurs with symptoms of a sore throat, cough, fever and chills, vomiting, diarrhoea and nausea, body ache and infection in upper respiratory system.
Availability of Tamiflu medicines at all centres is being ensured, Delhi health minister A K Walia said.
The government has advised people to maintain oral and personal hygience, wash hands with soap or use sanitizer before eating, be careful while consuming pork, and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, because the H1N1 germs spread through these routes.
For treatment, H1N1 is sensitive to Tamiflu and telenza, but these medicines must be taken under medical supervision.
Doctors at AIIMS, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Apollo and Max Hospital, Saket said, they have been getting regular cases of swine flu this year.
"We have got more than 13 confirmed cases in the last one month. Five of these patients are still hospitalized", said Dr Aroop Basu, chest medicine consultant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
He said two patients are critical and they have been put on ventilator.
Says Dr Rajesh Chawla, respiratory medicine and critical care specialist at Apollo: "There is little chance of swine flu turning into epidemic as was witnessed in 2009. Only those with severe symptoms like breathing difficulty need admission.
"We have come across several patients with symptoms of the disease,but they recovered within a week without any specific medication", he said.
Chawla said, precautionary measures like vaccinating those at high risk the elderly, those with kidney problems, cancer patients, pregnant women and children for the viral influenza is advised.
Dr Arvind Lal, owner of Dr Lal Pathlabs, said that till January third week, the lab were getting about 10 samples a day but it has doubled over the last few days.
"We are getting 20 samples daily for three weeks and 30% of them are positive", he said.
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