Flu toll 23,Minister says avoid crowding

With the code of conduct likely to be announced for the forthcoming Assembly elections,District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar held a series of meetings with municipal...

With the code of conduct likely to be announced for the forthcoming Assembly elections,District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar held a series of meetings with municipal,traffic and health authorities on drought and traffic conditions and made an earnest appeal to Ganesh mandals in the city to celebrate the festival in a simple manner. Swine flu has claimed 23 lives and affected 800 people so far in the city. Every day 15-20 new cases are coming to light and people should avoid overcrowding,especially during festivals,Pawar said on Monday.

National Institute of Virology director Dr A C Mishra met Pawar on Monday and stressed that there are still a large number of people getting affected with swine flu and over crowding during festivals can helping spreading the virus. There is an urgent need to take extreme precaution, Mishra said.

Pawar also said since Ganesh festival was of tremendous importance and celebrated with great fervour in Maharashtra particularly in Pune,it was not possible to tell Ganesh mandals not to put up pandals. However,we have appealed to the people to watch the festival on the cable television network and asked the organisers to complete the immersion procession in record time.

Out of the 23 deaths,11 are women and 12 are men,Pawar told media persons. One between the age group 0-10 years,two girls in the age group of 11-20 years,two women and two men in the age group of 21-30 years,three women and four men in the age group 31-40 years,two women and four men in the age group 41-50 years,two men in the age group 51-60 years and one woman in the age group 61-70 years. Four deaths were from Punes rural areas while 17 were from the Pune Municipal Corporation area. Among the 23 who died due to swine flu and related complications,there were four victims who were infected with the virus but had no history of disorders like hypertension or any other medical ailments.

Pawar said that a total of 2.4 lakh people were screened for the H1N1 virus out of which 11,675 people with suspected swine flu symptoms were given Tamiflu tablets. At present,there are 21 patients admitted to various hospitals in the city,out of which five are critical and on artificial ventilation at Sassoon Hospital and three others at private hospitals.

Dr Ashok Ladda,Joint Director of Health Services,said schools affiliated to SSC board have opened on Monday and specific instructions have been given to parents and school authorities regarding swine flu.

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