INDIA SWINE FLU DEATH TOLL RISES ABOVE 1,000 THIS YEAR
INDIA SWINE FLU DEATH TOLL RISES
ABOVE 1,000 THIS YEAR
The last three weeks have seen the highest number of
fatalities, at 342.
A total of 22,186 cases have been reported across the
country.
The number of deaths this year is four times more than
fatalities recorded over the equivalent period in 2016, which itself saw a dip
in occurrences of the disease.
The western state of Maharashtra is the worst
affected, where the death toll stands at 437, according to data revealed by the
Union Health Ministry. Neighbouring Gujarat follows closely with 297 deaths,
reported news agency PTI.
India experienced a
severe swine flu wave two years ago, when health officials scrambled to contain
an outbreak which killed more than 1,900 people. While 2016 saw a dip in recorded
deaths (265) and affected cases (1,786), the numbers for this year indicate a
resurgence of the disease.
The country saw its most crippling outbreak in the
pandemic years of 2009-2010, when the virus affected around 50,000 people and
claimed the lives of more than 2,700 across the country.
Dr Sanjay Gururaj, medical director at Shanthi
Hospital, a private clinic, told the BBC that it was not mandatory for a
private hospital to report its numbers to the government's database. "The
numbers in the official report are possibly just the tip of the iceberg,"
he said.
https://www.
Comments
Post a Comment