Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 27: The State Government today said that 482 patients have been tested positive for H1N1 influenza in the State in 2015 with seven suspected deaths due to swine flu virus.
In a written reply to a joint question of four members Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Dr Shehnaz Ganai, D S Oberai and Mohd Muzaffar Parray in Legislative Council today, the Minister for Health Choudhary Lal Singh said that health institutions of the State have reported 26 deaths which include seven suspected deaths from H1N1 influenza.
“Most of the deaths occurred to patients suffering from co-morbidities,” the Minister said, adding, that 482 patients have tested positive for H1N1 influenza in the State.
While referring to measures taken by the Government, the Minister said that soon after first confirmed case was diagnosed at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar on January 27, an action plan was framed to deal with the influenza which envisaged setting up of isolation wards in tertiary hospitals of the State.
He further disclosed that till March 23, 8665 health-care workers have been vaccinated to protect them from contracting the virus.
“A 32-bedded isolation ward was made functional at SKIMS, Soura, for patients suffering from swine flu,” he said, adding that a four-bedded Intensive Care Unit and 10 isolation rooms were earmarked in SMHS Hospital.
Isolation wards with capacity of ten beds each were also made operational at G B Pant Hospital and Chest Disease Hospital in Srinagar, he added.
The Minister said that in Jammu, a ward with 48 independent rooms was earmarked for swine flu in GMC Hospital.
The department established round the clock, control rooms at Directorate of Health Services in Jammu and Srinagar.
As far as the testing facilities are concerned, SKIMS has testing facility for H1N1 virus and State Cabinet has sanctioned two testing laboratories for H1N1 at Government Medical College Jammu and Government Chest Disease Hospital Srinagar, the minister added.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel