JODHPUR: Increasing number of deaths among swine flu patients in Jodhpur have raised eyebrows. In past 15 days since January 1, 26 victims of H1N1 virus have died in Jodhpur’s MDM hospital, which has been set up as the centre for treating swine flu patients.But with 26 casualties in just 15 days, it is a matter for concern as the entire 2018 had reported just 49 deaths of swine flu, of which 29 came from Jodhpur district while the remaining 20 belonged to surrounding districts.Of these 26 casualties, 18 victims belonged to Jodhpur district while the rest were referrals from Pali, Jalore, Barmer, Jaisalmer and Nagaur districts.Principal of S N Medical College S S Rathore said the MDM hospital has been developed as a centre for treatment of swine flu with all the required facilities right from testing to critical care.“Due to these facilities, patients from all the six districts of Jodhpur division and even from Nagaur are being referred to here”, he said adding that the total toll actually is not of Jodhpur alone but of the seven districts.According to the medical experts, all these districts fall under desert zone and temperature during winter is quite chilling in the region which acts as catalyst for swine flu virus.Researches and studies have also pointed out to the contribution of the dust particles in the air which aggravates the situation for the patients with prolonged cold.“Dust particles make their way to the lungs of the patient suffering from cold due to winter. This way, the person easily gets affected by the H1N1 virus”, said a doctor from microbiology department of AIIMS.Doctors attribute the initial negligence by the patients who treat the cold and other weather related symptoms as common cold and keep practising self-medication, which usually make the condition worse. By the time the patient reaches the hospital, the condition is alredy worsened.But Rathore said there are large number of patients who have been discharged fully cured.“In these 15 days, we had over 300 positive cases and because of our efforts and facilities available in the hospital, we have restricted the casualty to 26”, Rathore said.

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