Kochi: Alert against H1N1 spread

KOCHI: The health department has issued an alert against H1N1 (swine flu) in Ernakulam district in view of its spread in the last few months. The authorities have confirmed one case of swine flu death in Ernakulam in June--the second one this year. The first occurred in February.

Cases have been reported from Kuttambuzha, eastern interior parts of the district and coastal areas.

“A two-year-old kid from the tribal colony in Kuttambuzha died of H1N1 at Government Medical College, Kottayam, last month. The child was initially treated at Kothamangalam government hospital from where he was referred to Ernakulam Government General Hospital. Since his condition didn’t improve, the boy was transferred to Medical College, Kottayam, where he died,” additional district medical officer Dr S. Sreedevi told DC.

Meanwhile, sources at Ernakulam Government General Hospital said that one more paediatric case of H1N1 was reported from the tribal area of Kuttambuzha. The child was fully cured and discharged two days ago, sources said.

Since January, 58 cases of H1N1 have been reported from Ernakulam with 10 cases each in January and February, 17 in March, nine each in April and May, two in June and one in July. One case was reported from Edavanakakd on Monday.

The district health authorities urged the public to take preventive measures against the deadly virus. “Fever, cough, throat pain and headache are the major symptoms. If the usual common cold and fever do not subside in two days, or if the fever worsens, they should immediately get medical assistance,” said the district medical officer in a media release.

Meanwhile, 10 suspected cases of dengue fever were also reported on Monday from Kaloor, Ponnurunni, Angamaly, Sreemoola-nagaram, Koovapady, Kanjoor, Kalloorkad and Vengoor.