Lucknow in grip of swine flu with 135 cases
Most parts of state capital have been ensnared by the deadly swine flu and with six fresh cases on Monday the total number of people affected by the disease has reached 135.
Also, one woman suspected to be swine flu patient died during treatment. Lucknow accounts for over 40 per cent of the 313 cases in the state. “Twenty-six samples were submitted on Saturday to KGMU’s lab. The report came on Monday,” said a spokesperson of the university. “In the report, six people from Lucknow and 15 from other districts tested positive,” he said.
PGI to Indiranagar, Kakori to Sarojininagar and Aminabad to Aliganj the disease seems to be on a rampage affecting people one after another. Doctors blame the spread of the scourge on mobility of affected people and early onset of swine flu disease due to moisture.
“You find cases in rural areas, too, and that’s because people frequently travel to city areas from where cases were reported till last year,” said Sheetal Verma assistant professor in the department of microbiology of King George’s Medical University. She added: “But there was no reason for people to panic.” The areas that have a majority of cases are KGMU, PGI campus and the localities nearby. Cases were also reported from Hazratganj, Kanpur Road, Rajni Khand (Sharda Nagar), Alambagh, Indira Nagar, Rae Bareli Road, Triveni Nagar, City Station, Balaganj, Bazaarkhala, Rajajipuram, Aishbagh, Mawaian, Vrindavan Yojna, Gudamba, Kalli Pashchim, Telibagh, Charbagh, Nirala Nagar, Mahanagar and Aliganj. And if the city areas were not enough cases were also reported from rural pockets of the district -Sarojininagar and Kakori.
Experts say awareness and precaution is the key to control the disease, especially when one goes out. “Avoid hand shake and crowded places such as railway stations and malls unless necessary,” said Dr PK Gupta, president IMA. SCHOOL ALERT Worried over the spread of swine flu in schools, the office of chief medical officer (CMO), Lucknow has forwarded a list of schools, whose students tested positive for swine flu in the past one week, to the district inspector of schools and asked him to run awareness campaigns there.
The CMO has requested the education department to ensure that these kids remain at home for treatment as there are chances of the disease spreading to other children if the affected kids attend school.
The schools from where students tested positive are Seth MR Jaipuria, Gomti Nagar; Rani Laxmibai School, Sector 19, Indira Nagar; DPS Jankipuram; City Montessori School, Kanpur Road; Khun Khunji Girls Inter College, Chowk; Christ Church College, Hazratganj; St John’s School, Near Patel Dental College; Chiranjiv Bharti School, Ashiana.