One more H1N1 death at SKIMS, toll mounts to 6

Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Feb 22: One more person died at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) hospital in Srinagar today taking the death toll in the State due to swine flu to six and 10 more patients tested positive for H1N1 taking the swine flu positive cases in Kashmir to 119.
The Medical Superintendent of the SKIMS hospital, Dr Farooq Jan, told Excelsior that one more person, a 28-year old man from Kokernag area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, died in the hospital last night due to swine flu. He said that the patient, who was admitted to the hospital on February 19, had severe cardiac problem including left ventricular failure but had test positive for H1N1 as well.
Dr Jan said that one more patient, 20-year old female from Soura, was admitted to SKIMS and she is stable. He said that total number of patients admitted at SKIMS is 8 and the hospital has so far discharged 10 patients after successfully treating them.
The SKIMS MS said that so far 5 deaths have occurred at SKIMS hospital out of which two had severe cardiac problems. One death took place in Jammu.
Dr Jan said that on an average 3 percent flu cases that reported to the SKIMS hospital during past one week were tested positive. He advised people not to panic and take precautionary measures.
Sources said that on an average 300 flu cases are examined in the hospital for past one week and out of which there are around 30-40 suspected H1N1 cases that are sent for the testing. He said that out of these around 10 people are found positive for H1N1 test.
They said that the flu vaccine is mostly effective when it is administered in the months of September and October as it gives immunity for the winter. He said that normally the virus mutates and the efficacy of the vaccine goes down by 80 percent every year. He said that the new vaccine with more efficacy will be available in the market by March.
Sources said that the vaccine should be administered only after proper consultation. He said that there is no need to panic as the H1N1 virus does not survive at 21 degrees Celsius and with the improvement in weather conditions there would be no swine flu.
According the sources, the H1N1 vaccine has several side affects including Guillainbare syndrome which leads to weakness of muscles and if the respiratory muscles go weaker it can prove to be fatal.
In the meantime, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Rohit Kansal, today convened a meeting of officers here and reviewed the measures taken by the Hospital authorities to deal with the swine flu.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone, Principal Government Medical College Srinagar, Dr Rafiq Ahmad Pampori, Director SKIMS Soura, Dr Showkat Ali Zargar, Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman and other senior officers of divisional administration.
The Divisional Commissioner was informed that all Hospitals of the Valley have been kept on alert to curb the swine flu spread in the Valley and for this purpose, necessary medicines and other facilities have been kept available in all Health Institutions. Besides, Isolation Wards have also been established in all hospitals in the Valley.
Kansal visited Barzulla where a Control Room has been established to facilitate people where Telephone Nos. 0194-2440283 and 0194-2430581 have been installed and people can contact on these numbers during working days from 10.30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Coaching Centres Association (CCA) of Kashmir today decided to close down all of its coaching centres in Kashmir till further orders due to the increase risk of swine flu.
The association lambasted the Government for failing to control swine flu. “According to some Government officials the swine flu was prevalent in Kashmir since last September and they never told the people about it. This is sheer criminal negligence,” said G N Var chairman CCA. “They have put entire population at risk and till date they seem to have no plan to contain it.”

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