Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 19: Two people died of swine flu today at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) hospital taking the death toll to 4 while the number of the patients who tested positive for the H1N1 virus in the Valley has crossed 100 mark.
The Director SKIMS, Dr Shoukat Zargar told Excelsior that two more people died of swine flu at SKIMS today taking the death toll to 4. He said that a pregnant woman, Arshada Bano wife of Bashir Ahmad of Budgam, who was suffering from swine flu was brought to the hospital in critical condition.
Dr Zargar said that woman was critical and “we carried out caesarean last night on her to save the baby”. He said that woman died this morning but the baby is fine and she is being taken care of.
Director SKIMS said that one more patient who was also admitted last night to the hospital died of swine flu this afternoon. He said that Manzoor Ahmad of Tral was also brought to the hospital in critical condition.
Dr Zargar said that they have created a 32 bed isolated ward at SKIMS and 4-5 patients are admitted there and they are out of danger. He said that in order to prevent the infection from spreading to other patients, the hospital has shifted the respiratory disease OPD outside the hospital in the hospital Sari. “This was done to prevent over 5000 patients who visit the OPD every day here”, he said.
In the meantime, more people tested positive for the H1N1 virus taking the number of people testing positive to over 100. Director SKIMS said that 13 new cases of H1N1 virus were reported till this morning and today more people tested positive. He, however, said that the number of people who tested positive today can be revealed tomorrow morning.
Dr Zargar said that some doctors also tested positive as they have got infection from the patients.
The health authorities yesterday suggested the Government to extend the winter vacation of the schools in view of the outbreak of the viral disease.
Director Education, Kashmir, Showkat Ahmad Beigh told Excelsior that they may extend the winter vacations after getting formal communication from the Director SKIMS and Director Health, Kashmir.
“I have written to both the Directors of SKIMS and Health Deptt to communicate us formally about the outbreak of the swine flu. Once they communicate me, we will extend the vacation keeping in view the health of the children,” Beigh said.
Meanwhile, doctors in the Valley have censured the health authorities for not creating awareness among the people on time.
“The Health Deptt officials should have prepared in advance by capacity building and response capacities to protect people from the deadly virus. Health authorities should have set up isolation wards and kept logistics available in advance to combat H1N1 outbreak,” said Dr Nisar Ul Hassan, president of doctors association.
He said the health officials instead of taking proactive response to the outbreak concealed laboratory confirmed cases which resulted in alarming upswing of H1N1 patients in the Valley.
The doctors also urged upon the concerned authorities to close schools till outbreak is over as this intervention of social distancing will reduce transmission risk of H1N1 among children.
“Children below five years age are of high risk and they should be vaccinated against H1N1 as the virus in them can be fatal,” Dr Nisar said.
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