Officials say 14 more cases have been reported, taking the total to 359 since January this year. The Department of Health claims it has stepped up measures to test, detect, and treat the infection.

According to a release from the Directorate of Health Services, a 59-year-old man of Pallimoola in Thrissur district died in a private hospital on July 10. He tested positive for the swine flu virus and the death was caused by broncho pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), it said.

In another case, a 42-year-old woman, whose H1NI status was confirmed, died in a private hospital in Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad district yesterday, also due to ARDS, it said.

 Nine of the newly reported cases were from Thrissur and five from Kannur. Kozhikode accounted for 115 cases reported since January this year, followed by Malappuram 66, Kasargode 38, Kannur 40, Thrissur 40, Wyanad 24, Kottayam 10, Ernakulam 10, Alapuzha 10, Kannur five, Palakkad three, Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam one each, the release said.

How to prevent swine flu

Speaking to IANS, H1N1 nodal officer Amar S. Fettle said the maximum number of cases has been reported in Kozhikode, with districts like Thrissur, Malappuram, Kasargode and Alappuzha also reporting cases of H1N1. The health authorities are fully geared and all the hospitals have stocks of medicine. 

He said that people should seek medical advice when they report with fever and not attempt self-medication. The worst attack of H1N1 was reported in 2009 when many people died, and there was another attack in 2011, but with less mortality, he said.

“This time things are different, more because Kerala people over the years have developed immunity and also because of a vigilant health back up in terms of adequate supply of medicines and testing facilities,” said Fettle.

Source: IANS