Swine-flu claims another at Gandhi Hospital

Swineflu scare is slowly taking its toll in Andhra Pradesh. The latest victim is again a woman from Mahbubnagar. Despite the denial from Health Department officials that there were no swine-flu deaths, 28-year-old Vani of Mehbubnagar district died at the Gandhi Hospital on Thursday morning.

Earlier, a pregnant woman from Medak district had died of Swine Flu at the Gandhi Hospital on Monday. A 32-year-old man, Apanna died of H1N1 symptoms at Care Hospital in Visakhapatnam last week. However, Health Minister Danam Nagender on Wednesday declined to confirm the death at Visakhapatnam.

The Government General and Chest Hospital at Erragadda here has indicated that about ten persons per day, on an average, are coming to the hospital with symptoms similar to H1N1. However, all the cases referred to the hospitals with such symptoms need not be swine-flue.

An interactive voice recorder system hosted by the Department of Health can detail H1N1 symptoms, dos, don'ts and precautions. All that one needs to do is to contact 040-24656852 or 9849902452.

At least 16 suspected Swine Flu cases were reported in the state during the last 10 days. Seven of them tested positive for A H1N1 virus. At least 54 people died of Swine Flu in Hyderabad last year. State Health officials have indicated that about 80,000 vials of medicines related to the flu have been sent to various hospitals in the state.