Hyderabad, September 14: In a disturbing indication that swine flu could be getting out of control, two more died of the dreaded virus here on Sunday, taking its toll to 10 in the State.
A 25-year-old woman, Madhavi, and 30-year-old Narasimha, who were undergoing treatment at the Aware Global Hospital and Gandhi Hospital respectively died while the condition of five more patients is reported to be critical. Narasimha was a resident of Chityal in Nalgonda district.
The government, however, put the number of swine flu victims at nine.
Concerned over the spurt in H1N1 fatalities, Chief Minister K Rosaiah paid an unscheduled visit to the Gandhi Hospital and reviewed the situation with representatives of both government and private corporate hospitals.
Later addressing a press conference, he proposed to bring swine flu under the Rajiv Arogya Sri scheme. Accute respiratory distress cases are already being covered under Arogya Sri. ‘‘A decision to include H1N1 cases under the scheme will be taken after consulting officials of the Arogyasri Trust,’’ Rosaiah said.
The government also directed all hospitals to handle swine flu cases without delay. ‘‘It has also been decided to open six more screening centres in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad shortly,’’ the Chief Minister said. These will be in addition to the eight existing centres, he added.
Expressing his displeasure with certain corporate hospitals for refusing to treat H1N1 patients, Rosaiah directed them to open isolation wards and treat the patients. ‘‘The State Government will provide necessary assistance,’’ he promised. As of now, 14 private hospitals have come forward to open isolation wards. An isolation ward should have 10 beds and five ventilators.
The private hospitals have agreed to set up these facilities by September 25, Rosaiah said.
A control room will also be opened soon to give information about the infection. Till now, health authorities have confirmed 260 positive cases of swine flu in the State.
—Agencies