Swine H1N1 Flu Jamnagar Rajkot District News Sorath Gujarat India

The swine flu death graph is rising at an alarming rate in Rajkot District.

Five more people died on Friday and Saturday. Since June 22, when the first suspected case was reported in the city, the death toll has been steadily climbing. The toll as per sources is 20. A total 547 patients were treated in outpatient door department, created for swine flu patients at Rajkot's Pandit Dindayal Hospital, control room in charge of the hospital Dr U Mehta said.

On December 25, after a one-and-half-year-old baby died in the morning, a 50-year-old woman succumbed to H1N1 in the night.

On December 26, four-month-old baby Chintan Anilkumar, admitted on Wednesday from Kankot area, Rajesh D, 19, brought from Halwad in Surendranagar district on Friday died in the civil hospital. Rekha Turi, 40, of Jamsalaya in Jamnagar district died in a private hospital in Rajkot. Since Rekha's case was the first one reported in Jamsalaya, her house has been sealed and all preventive measures are being taken.

From December 17 to 24, 10 patients have died. At present, 36 of them are under treatment, of which 26 are positive cases and reports for 10 are awaited from Ahmedabad.

The death figures have jolted the Rajkot administration into action. Many are blaming the lax attitude of the administration for high number of deaths. The first death was reported on August 25, but special outpatient door treatment for swine flu patients was started a month later on September 10, a source said.

Meanwhile, more doctors have been appointed to tackle the situation since last week. "A chief doctor, two residents, two assistant professor-level doctors, one anesthetist and extra nurses have been put on duty per shift," said Dr Mehta.

In Rajkot, till date, 784 patients were given preventive treatment. According to sources, out of samples sent for confirmation, 88 per cent samples were positive. Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) health officer Dr Mitesh Bhanderi said, 1,050 doctors were given special training on swine flu guidelines.