Hyderabad, August 08: At least 26 fresh swine flu cases were reported in the twin cities today besides three from Mahaboobnagar district. Two more deaths were reported taking the toll this monsoon to 24.
Dr K Subhakar, state nodal officer for swine flu, confirmed six fresh cases from Gandhi hospital, three from Osmania General hospital, four from Rainbow hospital, five from area hospital of Malakpet and eight from various private hospitals in the city today.
29-year-old pregnant woman from Yamavaram village in Muddunuru Mandal of Kadapa district died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital today. Another woman from Madanapalle in Chittoor district died while being treated at the Manipal hospital in Bangalore. Out of the toll of 24, at least 12 are reportedly pregnant women.
The condition of three more patients at the Gandhi hospital and other private hospitals is critical, doctors said. About 2,500 have so far been screened across the state and at least 260 tested positive.
Meanwhile at the Gandhi hospital, where six nursing students tested positive for swine flu yesterday of the 21 down with fever, cold and cough, nursing students, including some of their parents and medical staff gheraoed the hospital superintendent, Dr Ashok Kumar, alleging failure to take precautionary measures to protect the staff attending on swine flu patients.
“The superintendent didn’t provide swine flu vaccine to the staff working in the swine flu isolation ward even though the government sanctioned sufficient doses,” K Prabhavathi, a nursing student, alleged. Another student, D Sri Kumar, said at least 30 nursing students working in the hospital have decided to go on long leave.
Dr Ashok Kumar told Express that they ran out of the vaccine after distributing the stocks among doctors working in various departments in the hospital. “We wrote a letter requesting more swine flu doses. They are expected to arrive in a week,” he said.
Health minister D Nagendar said Rs 3 crore was being released for districts, at the rate of Rs 15 lakh each, to meet the treatment expenditure for seasonal diseases and swine flu.
Speaking to reporters after a video-conference with the district collectors here today, the minister said the collectors were instructed to see that two isolation rooms were kept ready in all the hospitals with 50 beds and above. They were also asked to give the details of the number of vaccines administered so far. Nagendar said the officials were instructed to utilise NRHM funds fully.
–Agencies