Swine flu toll rises to 31

Although there is decline in positive cases, citizens have been advised to take precaution such as reporting to the hospital on the first symptoms of swine flu like high fever, sneezing and body pains. Citizens have also been advised to avoid going to crowded places, clean their hands as frequently as possible, avoid hand shaking, cover nose/mouth while sneezing and coughing. 

According to experts the unusually cold conditions prevailing in



the two States was the primary cause of the virus spread in December.

“50 percent of the 78 positive cases recorded in Telangana in 2014 were recorded last month,” Dr Kandi Subhakar, state coordinator, swine flu treatment was quoted by newspapers as saying.

The total death toll from H1N1 virus was 16 in 2014 in the two states of Telangana (11) and Andhra Pradesh (5). The number of positive cases recorded was also high in Telangana – 78. Andhra recorded 10 half of which succumbed to the virus.

The Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad which has specialised wards and is designated for treatment of the H1N1 cases has recorded five deaths out of the 17 cases it treated last year. Two of them were in July-August while three deaths occurred in December. 

However, the authorities say that there is no cause of panic as studies prove that the virus has not mutated nor increased its virulence in last few years. In 2009-10, the swine flu caused a global panic with thousands of deaths reported including from several parts of the country.