Swine flu claims two lives in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Jan 22 (IANS) Swine flu has claimed two more lives in Hyderabad while a central health team arrived Thursday to take stock of the situation, an official said.

Two women, aged 55 and 56, died at two government-run hospitals here late Wednesday, taking the toll to 21. Officials said a total of 247 swine flu cases were reported so far in the state.

Five people were discharged from Gandhi Hospital here but two others were tested positive. As many as 35 swine flu patients are undergoing treatment at the hospital while blood samples of 20 others were sent to Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) for H1N1 test.

Two patients were tested positive at Osmania General Hospital and they include a 24-year-old surgeon. Three junior doctors at Gandhi Hospital were also tested positive two days ago.

Alarmed over the mounting cases, the Telangana state government has declared an all out war to control the spread of the virus. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao Wednesday spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, who promised all assistance.

Officials said the central government is sending 50,000 Tamiflu tablets, 10,000 anti-swine flu syrups and 50,000 kits to diagnose swine flu cases. The medicines and kits will be distributed to all hospitals in Hyderabad and other districts.

A three-member committee from union ministry of health arrived in Hyderabad Thursday to take stock of the situation. The team visited Gandhi Hospital, the nodal centre for swine flu cases, to review the situation. The officials inspected isolation wards and other arrangements made to deal the cases.

Union Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya also visited Gandhi Hospital and inspected isolation wards and other facilities. He put the swine flu toll in Telangana at 25.

Meanwhile, the government transferred P. Sambasiva Rao, health director. The chief minister Wednesday pulled up the health department for failing to take measures to contain the spread of swine flu.

On Dec 30, the health director denied reports of deaths due to swine flu. He has claimed that eight deaths, reported in a section of media, were not due to swine flu but other diseases.

Claiming that swine flu is not life threatening, he has said section of doctors and private hospitals were creating panic among people.