JAGATSINGHPUR: Panic has gripped people of Jagatsinghpur district following death of five persons in 20 days due to swine flu.On Thursday, Kartik Behera of Adhang village within Balikuda police limits and Bijaya Sahu of Kerekera died of swine flu while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. Earlier, one Shanti Das of Kontia village within Tirtol police limits had died due to the H1N1 virus in a private hospital. Besides, two other women of Sanpur and Tirtol areas have also succumbed to swine flu. This apart, another person affected by the disease is undergoing treatment at SCBMCH.
The deaths due to H1N1 virus has once again put the focus on the dreaded disease which is spreading its tentacles in the district. Though the administration and health authorities are prepared to tackle the spread of swine flu this year, inadequate supply of antiviral tablets and H1N1 vaccine to Government-run hospitals has worsened the situation.
Sources said lack of vaccines has not only put those coming in contact with the affected persons at risk but also is exposing health staff, including doctors, nurses, ASHA and Anganwadi workers to the disease.
With local PHCs and CHCs receiving patients with symptoms of severe cold, cough and headache, doctors are prescribing tests for H1N1 virus and dengue. However, despite taking precautionary measures, the cases of swine flu and dengue in rural areas are on the rise.
Contacted, Additional District Medical Officer (Public Health) Maheswar Pradhan said apart from the five swine flu deaths and one positive case, 31 persons have been affected by dengue in the district. The Health administration is taking all precautionary measures to check the spread of the diseases, he said.
The health authorities have distributed around 200 antiviral tablets to people who came in contact with the affected persons. Though Health department has allocated 20 H1N1 vaccines to the district, it is yet to be supplied to medical staff working in swine flu affected areas, Pradhan added.