H1N1 IN KERALA

H1N1 in Kerala

One more person has succumbed to H1N1 influenza in Keralataking the number of deaths due to the infection to five since the outbreak of the monsoon on May 27 while 16 persons have tested positive in the last four days.Subisha (36) died in the medical college hospital here on July 20. She was admitted with acute respiratory distress syndrome and was tested H1N1 positive, a health department release said.Five positive cases were reported from Thiruvananthapuram, three each from Kannur and Kottayam, two from Kozhikode and one each from Kollam, Alappuzha and Wayanad district.Besides, 24 persons are under hospital quarantine with suspected H1N1 symptoms and 410 are under home quarantine. Throat swabs of 54 persons had been sent for lab tests, it said Meanwhile, a Central team of experts and officials visited parts of Alappuzha district from where various types of viral fever have been reported.The team head Dr V K Raina, however, said there was no room for panic and the situation was under control. They would visit other districts like Kollam, from where many cases of viral fever have been reported and submit a report to the Centre about the situation, he said.

                                                           Prof John Kurakar