Over 580 swine flu cases, 17 deaths in Feb

JAIPUR: The first week of February this year recorded the highest number of swine flu positive cases in the same period in the last four years.

According t o t he data of health department, from February 1 to 7, 583 swine flu positive cases and 17 deaths have been recorded, whereas in February 2016 there were 76 positive cases and 16 deaths, six positive cases and one death in February 2017 and 383 positive cases and 43 deaths in February 2018.

Healt h minist e r Raghu Sharma said that intensive screening camps were organised from January 21 to 25 across the state, and another round from February 4 to 9. Samples of people suffering an influenza-like illness such as cold, cough, body ache and sore throat, and those with symptoms of swine flu are sent for testing.

Since awareness of the illness is going up, more people are going for tests. All these factors are contributing to a higher number of reported positive cases, Sharma said.

Prof Radheyshaym Sharma, vice chancellor of Ayurveda Uni- versity, Jodhpur said, “Pollution and cold are the reasons for increase in swine flu positive cases. The virus affects the respiratory system, due to which oxygen flow is restricted in the body, and immunity level declines. If lungs are weak then chances of getting affected by swine flu is more.”

The Union ministry of health and family welfare deputed a public health team to Rajasthan to assess the situation and assist in strengthening response to the increase in cases. The team from centre had come to Jodhpur on January 30 to study the reasons of 23 deaths due to swine flu. The state health department sent a report to the Centre on February 7, mentioning that from January 1 to February 7, a total of 2706 swine flu positive cases and 96 deaths have been reported across the state, of which Jaipur has reported 1094 cases, 40.4% of the total cases, followed by Jodhpur with 382 cases (14.1%), 168 cases in Barmer (6.2%) and 163 cases in Udaipur (6%).