Representational image (Associated Press)
Seven persons have succumbed to swine flu in Haryana where 40 patients have so far tested positive for H1N1 virus in this year, state health officials said today.
"There have been seven deaths out of 40 positive cases of swine flu which have so far come to light," Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Ram Niwas said.
The persons who have died and who have been tested positive are from several districts, including Gurgaon, Faridabad, Hisar, Jind, Karnal, Rohtak and Fatehabad.
Mr Niwas was presiding over a meeting of civil surgeons of the state through video conferencing here where the steps taken to tackle the situation were reviewed.
He said that the health department has made adequate arrangements for the treatment of patients suffering from swine flu.
"Adequate stock of Tamiflu has been made available, ventilators have been provided and isolation wards have been set up in all hospitals of the state," he said.
He said that necessary instructions have been issued to the civil surgeons to take all precautionary measures to check the spread of this virus as well as tackle the swine flu cases in the state.
Asking people not to panic as the situation is well under control, he said the civil surgeons have also been asked to remain in regular touch with private hospitals to find out how many positive cases are being reported in the institutes.
"We have also set up a task force in every district of the state to tackle the situation. We are trying to make the public aware through various initiatives that they must immediately report to hospitals if they find swine-flu like symptoms in them that include high fever and difficulty in breathing, etc.," he said.
"We are trying to track all those with whom a patient who has tested positive may have come in contact with," Mr Niwas said.
The school authorities across the state had also been asked to make students aware about the symptoms of swine flu.