TIRUPUR: Of the 40 H1N1 cases reported in the district from last month, four people are suspected to have died of it.As no laboratory facility is available in the district to test H1N1 virus, patients are referred to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, a senior health department official said. "As per the data collected from government and private hospitals in Tirupur, Coimbatore and Erode districts, 46 residents were affected with H1N1 this year. As many as 40 cases were reported from October. The four deaths could not be associated with H1N1 as the patients had multiple complications including asthma and heart ailments," he told TOI.Forty-two special medical teams that were formed to sensitise people about dengue fever are also creating awareness about H1N1. "Medication is started immediately when patients are brought in. Tamiflu is given to even fever patients since the medicine does not have much side-effect. We have distributed more than 30,000 Tamiflu so far. Government hospitals have a stock of 22,500."The health department has urged people to maintain personal hygiene and also avoid self-medication. "Since it is an airborne disease, it is important to maintain personal hygiene. People should wash hands whenever they return home from outside. It is important to consult doctors if they suffer from fever," the official added.

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