Newmai News Network
Imphal | July 17
A youth from Imphal East district died of swine flu, prompting the Manipur Health authorities to sound an alert to all government and private hospitals and health centres in the state.
This is the third swine flu case in Manipur after Manipur reported its first swine flu case in May 2015. In 2015, swine flu had claimed two lives in the state.
An 18-year-old youth from Imphal East district died at a hospital in Assam’s Dispur where he was referred to from a hospital in Imphal on July 13 last.
Doctors at the hospital at Dispur tested him positive for swine flu (H1N1). He died on July 15 morning, around 8.15 am according to the death certificate provided by the hospital authority.
The cause of death was H1N1 as provided in the certificate.
Following the official report, state Health Directorate has alerted all hospitals and health centres in the state to take precautionary measures to deal with a possible outbreak of the disease.
Addressing an emergency press conference at the state Health Directorate, its director Dr K Rajo informed that soon after the confirmation of the patient suffering from swine flu, a special team of doctors has taken stock of the situation.
The special team had even examined family members of the patient and they were under the scanner of the doctors if the disease has communicated to them.
Stating that swine flu is caused by a highly resistant virus which can now be transmitted from man to man, the Health director has appealed to the people to be very cautious against swine flu.
Reiterating that swine flu can be transmitted from man to man, the Director informed that Health service has geared up to combat swine flu in Manipur.
A separate cell to tackle swine flu has been opened in Imphal and surveillance officers have been appointed, he added.
While appealing to all the people not to be unduly panicky about the disease, Dr Rajo cautioned that cold and fever can sometimes lead to fatality. “That is why precautionary measures have been taken up,” he said. He added that tackling swine flu or any epidemic cannot be successful without people's cooperation.
Swine flu virus can be transmitted from one man to another through sneezing and coughing etc., he cautioned.
The deadly virus can also be transmitted on touching articles such as equipment used in public toilets by swine flu infected persons.
Soaps should be used in washing hands as a precautionary measure against the deadly disease.
If there is no compelling reason, people should avoid visiting places where swine flu epidemic has broken out, he added.
