Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 121)

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 50)

30 new cases of A(H1N1) in State



Staff Reporter


Thiruvananthapuram: Influenza A (H1N1) infection continues to spread rapidly across the State, with 30 new cases and one death being confirmed on Friday.

Of the new cases, 16 were reported from Thiruvananthapuram.

Seven cases were confirmed from Kollam, three from Kannur and one case each was reported from Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram.

On Friday, six persons were quarantined in hospital and 39 were advised to go on home quarantine.

Forty-seven throat swabs were sent for lab analysis on Friday.

Total number

The total number of H1N1 cases reported in the State since May now stands at 159, including 14 deaths.

Anilkumar, 36, of Perumbavoor, Ernakulam, who died on June 9 at General Hospital, Ernakulam, while under treatment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and viral pneumonia, had tested positive both for A (H1N1) as well as leptospirosis, official reports said.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/12/25hdline.htm

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 51)

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

36 new H1N1 cases in State

Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram: Thirty-six new cases of Influenza A(H1N1), including one death, were reported in the State on Saturday. Thiruvananthapuram reported 13 new cases, Kollam, eight; Kozhikode, five; Ernakulam, four; Malappuram, three; Alappuzha, two and Malappuram reported one case.

The cause of death of Sheeja, 24, from Cherthala, Alappuzha, who died at Kottayam Medical College hospital on June 11 while under treatment for acute respiratory distress and viral pneumonia, was confirmed as due to A(H1N1).

Seventeen persons have been quarantined in hospital while 20 others have been advised to go on home quarantine. The total number of H1N1 cases in the State since May now stands at 195, including 15 deaths.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/13/stories/2010061354090400.htm

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 52)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the death of a 24yearold woman on Saturday who had been undergoing treatment at the Medical College Hospital in Kottayam, the death toll from swine flu since May 1 in the state has risen to 15. Sheeja, 24, of Cherthala, was under treatment for severe respiratory problems and pneumonia. She has been confirmed as H1N1 postive.

The number of swine flu positive cases reported in the state had risen from 29 on Friday to 36 on Saturday. The highest number of cases reported was in Thiruvananthapuram district with 13 cases followed by Kollam eight. Kozhikode five. Ernakulam four. Malappuram three. Alappuzha two and Kottayam one. However, no fresh cases were admitted to any of the ICUs in the state on Saturday. The number of patients under home quarantine on Saturday was 20 and those under hospital quarantine 17. A total of 26 throat swabs were sent for testing.

FEVER CASES: There was, however, a slight letup in the number of other fever cases on Saturday The number of fever cases was 6,581 compared to 8,508 on Friday. Of this, confirmed dengue cases were 17. Most of the new cases were reported from southern districts: Alappuzha 6; Pathanamthitta 4. Three cases were reported from Thrissur. Two confirmed cases of leptospirosis were also reported from Alappuzha. No chikungunya case was reported on Saturday.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/one-more-dies-of-swine-flu/181141.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 52)

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Woman succumbs to H1N1 flu

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananthapuram: One more person succumbed to influenza A(H1N1) while as many as 11 fresh cases were reported from all over the State on Sunday. While six cases were reported from Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam had two cases and Kollam, Malappuram and Thrissur, one each.

The Health Department confirmed that the death of Brijimol, 23, a resident of Kulathur, Thiruvananthapuram, at the Medical College Hospital here on Saturday was due to H1N1. She had died of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Myocarditis.
While three H1N1 positive patients were kept under hospital quarantine on Sunday, 18 were advised home quarantine. Throat swabs were collected from 19 suspected cases for detailed analysis.

The number of H1N1 cases in Kerala has gone up to 206 while 16 persons have succumbed to the flu.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/14/stories/2010061457600400.htm

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 53)

Breaking News: A 24-year-old woman died of Swine Flu at the Medical College Hospital in Kottayam, taking the A H1N1 death toll in the state to 15 since May 2010.



The victim was identified as Sheeja from Cherthala. She was undergoing treatment after complaining of respiratory problems. She later developed pneumonia.



The number of Swine Flu positive cases has been on the rise in Kerala. The positive cases have now gone up to 36 on Saturday.

http://www.breakingnewsonline.net/health/2358-swine-flu-death-reported-from-kerala.html

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 53)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala government asked the Centre to send an expert team to conduct an epidomology study of swine flu as the state recorded 11 more cases of H1N1.

A total of 11 new H1N1 cases were reported from across the state since yesterday taking the total number of people affected by the virus this month to 47, health department officials said.

According to H1N1 monitoring cell of the Health department, six cases were reported from Thiruvananthapuram, two from Ernakulam and one each from Kollam, Malappuram and Thrissur.

The state government also requested the Centre to dispatch urgently more H1N1 preventive medicine.

Swine flu had claimed 48 lives in the state since its outbreak last year.

Spread of other types of viral fever continued to cause worry in many parts of the state with more than 9,700 patients reporting at government and private hospitals for treatment.

Health department sources said the situation was under control and there was no need for panic as measures had been taken to check the spread of the disease.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thirupuram/Kerala-seeks-Central-team-to-study-swine-flu-/articleshow/6047191.cms

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 53)

Team to study re-emergence of A(H1NI) in Kerala

Staff Reporter


1 lakh vaccine doses for pregnant women sought

Indigenous market to be available in market soon


Thiruvananthapuram: In response to a request from Kerala, a team of public health experts deputed by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will be in the State during the week to conduct an epidemiological study into the re-emergence of the A(H1N1) virus in Kerala during the monsoon season and its behaviour.

The Ministry has also sanctioned the State's request for additional stock of six lakh Oseltamivir tablets and 20,000 bottles of paediatric syrup. Kerala's request for 31,000 doses of ?Sanafu,' the A(H1N1) vaccine imported by the Centre for use among public health personnel, has also been approved.

?We have requested one lakh doses of Sanafu vaccine, which is recommended as safe for use among pregnant women and children.

We pointed out that we had an unusually high number of H1N1 deaths among pregnant women this season. The Ministry told us that a high-level committee is looking into this and a decision will be taken soon,? Health Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), Manoj Joshi, told The Hindu.

In his letter, Mr. Joshi had mentioned that nine out of 16 deaths reported in Kerala so far were of pregnant and post-natal women.

All were treated only for simple flu in private clinics and not with the anti-viral drug in the early stages, as has been recommended by the WHO.

Mr. Joshi said that the request for one lakh imported vaccines for pregnant women had been placed, since the next two or three months would be crucial and cases could go up as monsoon intensified. ?Till now, the vaccine has been used in the country only for public health personnel. We will have to wait till the expert committee gives a final decision whether Sanafu can be released for use among general public,? Mr. Joshi said. Even though the first indigenous vaccine against H1N1 manufactured by Zydus Cadila ? Vaxiflu-S ? was released in India last week, it is not yet available in the open market. There has also been no confirmation regarding its safety.

?I have spoken to the company representatives and have made arrangements to make Vaxiflu-S available through hospitals, strictly on the basis of prescriptions. The logistics should work out in a day or two and hospitals can purchase the vaccines directly from the company,? Mr. Joshi said.

18 new cases

On Monday, 18 persons were newly confirmed as H1N1-positive in the State. This include six cases from Thiruvananthapuram, three each from Kollam and Malappuram, two from Kottayam and one case each from Pathanamthitta, Thrissur and Kasaragod. The total number of confirmed cases of H1N1 since May now stands at 224.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/15/stories/2010061562580700.htm

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 53)

Status of H1N1 in Kerala
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

18:1 IST



? The number of cases of Pandemic Influenza H1N1 started showing an increasing trend with monsoon hitting Kerala. The outbreak is confined to Trivandrum and Kollam Districts of South Kerala.

? Since 15th May 2010, there had been 201 laboratory confirmed cases and 16 deaths. Nine of these deaths were in pregnant women. This has caught attention of the local media.

? On the request of the State Government, a three member team is being deputed. The team is expected to leave for Kerala tommorrow (16th June 2010)



Dr. Sunil Gupta, Jt Director (NCDC), New Delhi

Dr. Pradeep Khasnobis, Epidemiologist, NCDC, New Delhi

Dr. Tandale BV, Scientist D (Virologist), NIV, Pune



? State Government has asked support in terms of drugs, PPE and vaccines . Details are as under:

Items
Requirement received
Quantity to be sent.
From

Cap. Oseltamivir 75 mg
600000
6,00,000
MSO

Cap Oseltamivir 45 mg
50000
50,000

Cap Oseltamivir 30 mg
50000
Nil [ as stock of Cap Oseltamivir 30 mg is nil, this would be adjusted with syrup 75 ml]

Oseltamivir Suspension
10000
20,000

N 95 masks
20000
10,000

3 layered mask
400000
4,00,000

PPE
5,000
5,000

VTM with swabs
1000
1,000
NCDC

H1N1 Vaccine
34080
34,000
MSO

? MSO has been istructed to dispatch these items today.

? Kerala has earlier received 45,000 doses of vaccine. The utilization for health care workers is about 92 per cent.

? State Government has sought one lakh doses of vaccine to vaccinate pregnant women. The bridging study of M/s Sanofi Pasteur or the clinical trials conducted by M/s Zydus Cadila did not include pregnant women. However the inactivated pandemic influenza vaccine of M/s Sanofi Pasteur has been administered in Canada, USA, UK and other European countries to pregnant women. The matter has been referred to the High Power Committee under Secretary (HR) for decision.

? Govt of Kerala has also requested MOHFW to facilitate distribution of H1N1 Vaccine by M/s Zydus Cadila through their retail network in Kerala to ensure availability of the vaccine to public. M/s Zydus Cadila has been contacted and they are in touch with the State Government.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=62581

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 53)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The fact-finding team from the Union Health Ministry will start assessing the swine flu situation in the state from Wednesday.

The three-member expert team, two of whom have already reached the state capital, will be meeting Health Secretary Manoj Joshi on Wednesday morning before visiting the hospitals in the district.

The expert team comprises Dr Pradeep from Emergency Medical Services and Relief, B.V. Tandale from National Institute of Virology, Pune, and Dr Sunil Gupta, Joint Director, National Institute for Communicable Diseases. The team members are expected to visit the SAT Hospital and Medical College Hospital here on Wednesday morning.

The visits to the hospitals are being planned since the swine flu has badly affected pregnant women in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts. It is learnt that the expert team will be visiting hospitals in Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Ernakulam also. However, the schedule will be fixed only after the meeting with the Health Secretary.

The Central team is visiting the state following the request from the Health Department as increasing number of swine flu cases are being reported in the State. Already 207 positive cases have been reported in the state since May this year of whom seventeen had died. On Tuesday, six swine flu cases were reported in the state. One death in Thiruvananthapuram has also been confirmed to have occurred due to swine flu. Manoharan,45, from Parassala who died at Medical College Hospital on June 14 was tested positive for H1N1. Out of the six fresh cases, three have been reported from Ernakulam, and one each from Kollam, Palakkad and Malappuram.

The swab samples of 33 suspected swine flu patients were send for testing on Tuesday. Till Tuesday, 44 people have been quarantined in different government hospitals of the state and 33 have been advised home quarantine. One person has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Medical College here. On Tuesday, 8383 fresh cases of fever were reported in the state of which 21 are dengue cases.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/swine-flu-central-fact-finding-team-in-kerala/181989.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 54)

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Central team assesses epidemic situation

Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram: The three-member team from the Centre, here to conduct a detailed epidemiological investigation into the H1N1 epidemic in the State and the possible changes in virus behaviour in the wake of the monsoon, visited major government and private hospitals and the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology on Wednesday.

National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Joint Director Sunil Gupta, NCDC epidemiologist Pradeep Khasnobis and B.V. Tandale, from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, had detailed discussions with Health Department officials, including Health Secretary Manoj Joshi, Director of Health Services M.K. Jeevan and State H1N1 Nodal Officer Amar Fettle.

“They will focus on the H1N1 spell in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, from where the maximum number of cases and deaths have been reported. We have made all case sheets of patients and deaths records available to them.

“The team will proceed to Kollam on Thursday. They intend to collect throat swabs from the field for detailed lab analysis at NIV to study if they have been any change in the virus behaviour,” Mr. Joshi said.

He added that the 30,000 additional doses of the imported Sanafu vaccine, which the State had requested, for use among health workers and the additional stocks of Oseltamivir tablets will arrive on Thursday.

The State's request for one lakh vaccines (Sanafu) for vaccinating pregnant women was still being discussed by the High-Power committee.

“We will be distributing Oseltamivir tablets to all government and private hospitals so that patients under B and C categories can be treated without delay. We cannot prevent the spread of the infection but at present, our only safeguard is this medicine, which seems to be effective against H1N1 virus,” Mr. Joshi said.

25 more cases

On Wednesday, 25 more persons tested positive for H1N1 in the State.

Thiruvananthapuram reported seven cases; Kozhikode and Malappuram had six cases each; two cases each were reported from Kollam and Ernakulam while, Kottayam and Palakkad had one case each.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/17/stories/2010061765710400.htm

[Roehl_JC]

Re: Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 54)

17 deaths confirmed in Kerala in past month


THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following a spurt in H1N1 deaths in Kerala during the pre-monsoon season, a team of experts from the Centre visited hospitals in the state capital and met senior officials on Wednesday.

According to official statistics, 17 people have died of H1N1 in about a month and another 201 people have been diagnosed with the disease. Most of the victims are pregnant women. The state has sought one lakh doses of the vaccine for pregnant women.

The Central team included Sunil Gupta, joint director (microbiology), National Centre for Disease Control and Dr Pradeep of Emergency Medical Services and the relief division of the Directorate General of Health Services.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Thirupuram/17-H1N1-flu-deaths-in-a-month-shocks-Kerala/articleshow/6056893.cms

[tetano]

Re: Kerala: Fever cases on the rise

THENI: Special medical camps have been set up at entry points of all prime roads connecting Kerala in Theni district to screen travellers entering Tamil Nadu following re-emergence of A-HINI virus (swine flu) in the neighbouring State during this monsoon.

Medical camps have started functioning at Lower Camp on Theni-Kumali Highway, Cumbum Mettu on Cumbum-Nedunkandam Main Road and Bodi Mettu on Bodi-Munnar Highway on Wednesday.

Four doctors and six para-medical staff at Lower Camp, one doctor and two nurses at Bodi camp and two doctors and two nurses at Cumbum Mettu are running the camps. Two nurses have started monitoring Sakkaluthumettu Road, a short route for estate workers in Theni to reach Idukki district from Cumbum, since morning.

Sufficient medicines and equipment have been provided to each team to diagnose swine flu cases.

All travellers entering the State from Kerala in vehicles will be screened at the entry point itself. The police and revenue check post officials will stop all private and commercial vehicles and help doctors conduct a quick test, according to officials.

Prevention of virus

Talking to presspersons after inspecting medical camps at Lower Camp and at Cumbum Mettu, Collector P. Muthuveeran said that main aim of the camp was to prevent spread of the virus among people living in border areas.

Medical teams would work in shifts to check travellers round-the-clock. Preventive medicines would be given to affected persons on the spot. Each team would screen travellers and detect symptoms of swine flu. Suspected cases would be shifted to the Theni Government Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

Second test

Travellers having severe cough, restlessness and breathing troubles would undergo a second phase of tests to confirm the HINI virus attack, he added. With less traffic flow on many routes, doctors said that they would not find it difficult to screen travellers. ?Initially, we ask about their health condition and do a preliminary check-up. If necessary, they will be screened further,? a doctor said. Deputy Director of Health Services S. Chelladurai accompanied the Collector in the inspection.

http://www.thehindu.com/2010/06/17/stories/2010061757720100.htm

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 54)

Major outbreak of H1N1 infection at tribal school

C. Maya

Five out of 51 children test positive for the infection

Other students, staff put under surveillance

Health officials ready to meet any eventuality

Thiruvananthapuram: Widespread transmission of Influenza A(H1N1) virus in the community has resulted in a major local outbreak of the infection in a residential tribal school at Njaraneeli in Peringammala panchayat, where five out of a cluster of 51 cases of fever with cold were confirmed as H1N1 infection on Thursday.

?Five children tested for H1N1 on a random basis were positive and that all the 51 children could be having the infection. Oseltamivir medicine has been started for the children. All the students and staff at the Ambedkar Vidyaniketan School have been put under surveillance,? a senior health official told The Hindu.

The district heath administration has issued a high alert directive to doctors in the periphery.

It was on Wednesday that the medical officer at the Peringammala primary health centre reported to the district headquarters that a large number of children in the school were having fever with additional symptoms of cold.

A team of health officials who visited the school decided to take a random sample from among the fever-afflicted children, mainly to rule out the possibility of H1N1 infection. As all the children were sharing dormitory space, it was evident that the viral infection could spread rapidly.

Health Department officials said the incident was an indication of the high level of H1N1 surveillance that had been put in motion. They said that adequate quantities of Oseltamivir tablets had been made available at the school and that the doctors would watch out if more children were falling sick.

Public health experts pointed out that the local outbreak of H1N1 infection should come as a warning to the public, school authorities as well as the medical fraternity that all the general etiquette as special guidelines for schools and hospitals should no longer be ignored.

Special assembly

Meanwhile, the district health administration decided to launch an infectious disease prevention and control programme.

All schools will be directed to hold a special assembly on June 24, to raise awareness among students and teachers about the H1N1/viral fever epidemic in the community and its management.

District Medical Officer N. Sreedhar said that parents should take extreme caution and should not sent children to school for five days if they fall ill with fever or cold.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/18/stories/2010061856530300.htm

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 54)

A(H1N1) cases on the rise in Kozhikode district

Staff Reporter

28 cases confirmed in the past two weeks
Nodal officer says situation not alarming
Scattered nature of cases a concern


Kozhikode: The increasing number of influenza A(H1N1) cases is causing concern in the district.

C.J. Michael, nodal officer for A (H1N1) in the district, said as many as 28 cases of H1N1 had been confirmed in the district in the last two weeks. Last year, the disease was not reported from the district till July. Dr. Michael said though there was an increase in the number of cases, the situation could not be termed alarming.

He said the majority of the cases were reported from Olavanna, Perambra and Kutiadi besides the Corporation limits. ?The fact that the cases remain scattered across the district is a cause for concern and is indicative of a further spread,? Dr. Michael said.

According to him, the monsoon has only started and there is every possibility of the virus spreading further if strict precautionary measures are not taken by the people.

Last year, most of the H1N1 cases were imported from other countries but it was indigenous cases this time, he said, adding that results were awaited in another 11 cases.

Throat swabs collected from persons with suspected symptoms were sent to Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, which is the nearest testing centre from Kozhikode. The Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Biotechnology is the only testing centre for the virus in the State.

Meanwhile, health officials have urged the public to take precautionary measures, including keeping away from affected patients, as H1N1 is an airborne disease.

Even though no death has been reported from the district, the increasing number of affected people in the interior areas is causing concern.

Dr. Michael said there was nothing to panic as the disease was completely curable if proper treatment was taken on time.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/18/stories/2010061854800300.htm

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Kerala (total 54)

Kerala has highest incidence of swine flu: Govt


Thiruvananthapuram, June 18 (PTI) The Central team of scientists which conducted an epidemiological study on the spread of swine flu in Kerala, which has claimed 18 lives since last month, would submit a detailed report to the Union Health Ministry on the situation in the state.

More than 200 patients are undergoing treatment for H1N1 virus at various hospitals in the state, which is the highest in the country this year, Health Department officials said today.

Sunil Gupta, Joint Director (Microbiology), National Centre for Disease Control, who led the team, however, said measures taken to tackle the situation had resulted in a marked decrease in the number of cases in the last few days.

Asked if Kerala had the highest incidence of H1N1 this season, Gupta said, "till now, yes.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/726451_Kerala-has-highest-incidence-of-swine-flu--Govt