Re: महाराष्ट्र Fatalities in Maharashtra 505 this wave, total 920
Re: महाराष्ट्र Fatalities in Maharashtra 505 this wave, total 920
Silent killer H1N1 on rise in state
Swine flu Toll 505 till September this year, compared to 415 in 2009
The H1N1 virus may have lost the limelight to malaria and dengue this year, but the swine flu causing virus has recorded a higher casualty number than it did last year in the state.
In 2009, the H1N1 virus caused widespread panic throughout the country leading to closure of schools, colleges and even cinema halls.
The death toll in 2009 was 415 people but this year, the swine flu toll has already reached 505. In addition, official statistics suggests that the number of people testing positive for swine flu has increased twofold.
For instance, in July 2009 only 129 people tested positive for swine flu with no deaths while this year, July has seen 1,176 patients test positive and 80 die of swine flu.
Last August too, when the H1N1 virus was at its peak, 56 swine flu deaths were recorded in the state in contrast to death toll of 222 this August.
Dr Pradeep Awate from Directorate of Health Services, a swine flu expert, explained the reason for increase in the casualty.
"This year, deaths have been reported from virgin areas like Satara Sangli and Kolhapur, which recorded no casualties last year.
The migration of students and labourers from urban to rural areas has also accelerated the virus spread," he said, advising the public to take precautionary measures.
In Kolhapur, 17 swine flu deaths were reported while 28 were reported in Sangli due to the virus. While Nashik and Aurangabad reported 39 and 33 deaths respectively while Nandurbar district has recorded no deaths.
Meanwhile, the situation in Mumbai is under control, say civic health officials.
Executive Health Officer of BMC, Dr G T Ambe, said, "The climate does not seem to be conducive for the virus' growth.
At the same time our health machinery has been vigilant to trace swine flu cases.
The number of deaths is lesser than last year in Mumbai and most deaths are of people with pre-morbidity condition like hypertension." The city saw only 33 deaths in 2010, despite its dense population.
Dr Prabhu Desai, chest physician at Lilavati Hospital, said the number of people testing positive to H1N1 is lesser this year because not all people manifesting its symptoms are getting tested.
"It is now endemic and the reason Mumbai has seen less H1N1 related deaths is due to the heavy presence of health professionals."
He added that this year, health staffers were not affected by the virus, indicating that a section of people have developed immunity to the virus. "The focus was more on malaria and dengue cases than H1N1," he said.
415 deaths in 2009
Males: 207
Females: 208
Pregnant women: 41
Children: 16 among less than one-year-olds; 39 among one-year-olds to 10-year-olds; 26 among 11-year-olds to 20-year-olds
Number Game
33
Number of H1N1 deaths in city so far this year
1,176
People tested positive for swine flu in state in July
222
Swine flu deaths in state in August
80
Number of swine flu patients who succumbed to the viral infection across the state in July
http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/oct/021010-Swine-flu-Toll-505-virus-Ganesh-mandals-Swine-masks.htm
