By IANS,
Bangalore : With two new swine flu deaths being reported, the death toll due to the H1N1 virus in Karnataka has reached 73, a health official said here Thursday.
While one patient died in Bangalore, the other death was registered in Bijapur.
A 35-year old-man admitted to a private hospital in Bangalore on Sep 9 died on Sep 15, and a 40-year-old woman admitted on Sep 11 to a private hospital in Bijapur succumbed the next day.
However, the report confirming that both the victims tested positive for the virus was received only on Sep 16, a health official said.
The surveillance programme started in Bangalore by the civic authority, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), in association with the health department will be extended to other parts of the state.
“As part of the extension of the surveillance programme, experts will first survey the spread of the virus in Mysore, followed by Bijapur, Belgaum and Dharwad,” the official told IANS.
BBMP officials will meet authorities in five medical colleges to decide on the number of medical students who will assist in the ongoing surveillance process in Bangalore.
“The medical colleges will provide as many students as they can spare for the survey. We will plan on the number of families to be surveyed and chalk out the awareness campaign,” said Manoranjan Hegde, BBMP surveillance officer.
Meanwhile, 14 fresh positive cases were reported on Wednesday, with eight cases in Bangalore, three in Bijapur and one each in Mysore, Gadag and Belgaum.
About 6,800 people all over the country have been infected with the Influenza A (H1N1) viru that has killed 214 people, including the latest deaths in Karnataka.