41 H1N1 Cases and Four Fatalities in Coimbatore

A 64-year-old woman from Coimbatore has become the fourth fatality linked to H1N1 in the district. The woman died in Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) due to H1N1 and her condition deteriorated rapidly due to diabetes.

Prophylactic treatment was administered and testing for H1N1 virus was done by the Public Health Department to all her relatives and also to those who had come in contact with her. Health workers have sprayed disinfectants in their residence and in the locality.

Ten persons are being treated in the hospital's H1N1 ward and this year nearly 41 H1N1 cases have been reported in Coimbatore district.

S. Somasundaram, Deputy Director of Health Services, told that rural areas have reported a large number of fever cases and the department has arranged 12 �hospitals-on-wheels' to provide treatment and safe transport of patients. The vans are equipped with ECG, blood testing and other laboratory equipment and a television set to conduct awareness programmes about dengue and H1N1 virus.

"The Coimbatore Corporation has deployed two mobile medical units to tackle fever cases. The Health Department is providing technical assistance. Areas with high concentration of fever cases have already been identified," he said.

Coimbatore district has two private laboratories that were accredited to perform H1N1 testing. Further, the CMCH has an accredited laboratory. He advised people to undergo tests only at laboratories certified for the purpose. Private hospitals would face legal action under the Public Health Act if they performed unauthorised H1N1 tests, he added.

Source: Medindia