Upcoming festivities, swine flu worry Gujarat government

GANDHINAGAR - An upcoming festive season and the increasing number of swine flu cases in Gujarat have the state government worried over the way to control the spread of the H1N1 virus in the state.

“As of now there are 112 positive cases of swine flu in Gujarat, out of which an alarming 65 are from Ahmedabad. There is a busy festive season ahead with people from across the globe pouring into Ahmedabad. The concern here is that even if one undetected swine flu case joins the ‘garbas’, there would be 10 more waiting to catch the infection,” said an official of the state health department.

“The biggest concern for the government is that pregnant women are falling victim to the swine flu virus,” he said.

Eight people died of the virus in Gujarat, of which the latest victim was a pregnant woman. A 23-year-old woman, who was also pregnant, has been admitted in a government-run SSG Hospital in Vadodara Sunday with suspected swine flu symptoms. Her blood report is still awaited.

Moreover, there have been rising swine flu cases in the cities of Surat, 16, Vadodara, 10, and Rajkot, 7, which is also a matter of concern for the health officials. A total of 88 patients of swine flu has been treated and discharged from various hospitals of the state, the official stated.