Swine flu grips Udupi, kills 7

Mangalore: A total of 40 cases of H1N1 (Swine Flu) were reported of which seven persons had died so far in Udupi district this year, a district health official said.

Udupi District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Ramachandra Bayiri said that 22 cases of the influenza were reported in Udupi taluk, of which four had died, of the three cases reported in Karakala one had died and of the 15 cases reported in Kundapur, two had died.

The district had adequate stock of medicines to tackle the disease and directed the heads of various private medical institutions to inform the department as soon as a case of H1N1 was detected, he said in a statement.

He also said the threat of malaria was on the rise due to the rains and urged the public to maintain cleanliness of surroundings. The DHO also gave instructions to hospitals to ensure the availability of ventilators and other facilities.