One swine flu death in Chandigarh, five new cases

CHANDIGARH - One more swine flu death was reported Friday in this city taking the toll due to influenza A (H1N1) to 29, a health department official said Friday.

“The deceased was identified as a 32-year-old resident of Fatehabad town in Haryana. She was brought in a serious condition. We have informed the health authorities in Haryana and told them to quarantine people who came in contact with the deceased,” said an official said.

Meanwhile, five more positive cases were reported Friday.

“Three of the patients, two children and a doctor, are residents of Chandigarh while two others are from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh,” said the official.

Till now, over 600 suspected cases of swine flu have been reported of which 240 have tested positive.

The Indian Army’s Western Command Hospital here has reported 55 positive swine flu cases among defence personnel and their family members.

“So far 55 positive cases of swine flu have been reported in the Western Command hospital at Chandimandir. Forty-four of them were defence personnel while 11 were family members,” said a defence spokesperson.

“There have been no casualties, but two patients are still admitted here and undergoing treatment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Punjab has reported 120 positive cases and 16 deaths due to the contagious virus.

Deepak Bhatia, Punjab nodal officer of swine flu, told IANS: “People are becoming more prone to infection with a dip in mercury. But we are fully prepared to tackle any kind of emergency situation and have ample stocks of medicines.”