Swine flu returns to Andhra, two fresh cases in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD - Swine flu has returned to haunt Andhra Pradesh with two fresh cases reported in Hyderabad Saturday, health officials said.

One person was admitted to Government Chest Hospital and the other to Gandhi Hospital with symptoms of swine flu. The officials have not given the details of the patients.

The fresh cases were reported a day after a 32-year-old man, undergoing treatment since June 14 at a private hospital, died of swine flu in the port city of Visakhapatnam Friday.

Relatives of the deceased said he had gone to East Godavari district for a function last week, where he developed swine flu symptoms.

This is the first swine flu death in the state this year. The first case of swine flu this year was reported last week, when a 21-year-old pregnant woman from Medak district tested positive.

Following the fresh cases, health authorities in the state have gone on alert to take precautionary measures to check swine flu.

As many as 54 people died of swine flu in the state last year. Nearly 800 cases were reported.

The first swine flu case in India was detected at Hyderabad airport on May 16 last year. Most of the deaths were reported in September-October.

Health officials and doctors have sounded an alert as the onset of monsoon is believed to be the reason for fresh cases. The authorities are on high alert in areas bordering Karnataka and Maharashtra, where several swine flu cases were reported during the last few days.

K. Subhakar, chief coordinator of the Government Chest Hospital said the cold climate offers the perfect conditions for H1N1 virus to multiply rapidly.