The Telangana health department today sought to bring down the fear amongst people regarding the swine flu spread, stating that the number of positive cases reported in the last six days mirror a decrease in intensity.

From January 1, 1976 samples were tested, out of which 668 were found to be positive.

So far this year, the disease has resulted in the deaths of 34 people due to swine flu-related complications. On February 2, out of the 122 samples tested, only 39 were found positive.

“However, citizens are advised to take precaution such as reporting to the hospital on the first symptoms of the flu such as high fever, sneezing, cough and body pains. Citizens are also advised to avoid going to crowded places, clean their hands as frequently as possible, avoid hand shaking, cover nose and mouth while sneezing and coughing,” a statement from the department said.

It also pointed out that as seen from statistics; the fatality rate (number of deaths out of the total positive cases) in 2015 in Rajasthan is about 20 per cent, Gujarat 12 per cent and Delhi one per cent, while in Telangana it was five per cent.

The department also assured that enough stock of medicines was available at all teaching, district and area hospitals. Hospitals have been advised that when a patient comes with the suspected symptoms, the patient should be medically examined and, in case, it is a suspected case of swine flu, the patient should be admitted and isolated. Samples should be sent to the institute of Preventive Medicine.

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