KOLHAPUR: The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) has issued precautionary guidelines against the swine flu infection (H1N1) in a public notice on Tuesday. It added that due to the chilly season, the spread of the swine flu virus cannot be neglected and that citizens must take proper measures regarding the same.The notice read, “In many parts of the state, swine flu patients have been identified and there is a possibility that the infection could spread in the city. The condition cannot be overlooked and citizens need to be aware of the symptoms of the infection.”It added that private hospitals should report such patients to the KMC’s health department. The Tami flu tablet for the infection are available free of cost at civil hospitals, Zilla Parishad hospitals and corporation hospitals, said the notice.Meanwhile, the latest report from the health department on swine flu stated that in the month of January, over 13,000 individuals have been screened for the infection, of which 27 were found to be matching the symptoms of the infection, while 10 were tested positive among them. Three people have succumbed to the deadly virus this month, read the report.It added that the city-based private hospitals are treating seven swine flu positive patients, while civil hospital Chhatrapati Pramilaraje Rugnalya (CPR) is treating 3 patients of swine flu.When contacted, Dilip Patil, Health Officer of the KMC told TOI, “These are just the preventive guidelines for the citizens. One needs to take extra care in this season. We are monitoring the situation.”There were as any as 48 deaths and 209 swine flu positive patients in the district in 2018, revealed another report from the KMC’s health department.It has to be noted that swine flu is very contagious. The disease is spread through saliva and mucus particles. It may be spread by sneezing, coughing, touching a germ-covered surface and then touching one’s eyes or nose.When people cough or sneeze, they spread the virus into the air around them. These drops can remain suspended in the air or land on oft-touched surfaces. When one comes in contact with these drops, one is likely to be infected with the H1N1 virus, in much the same way as a typical seasonal flu.

Stay updated with all the Latest Kolhapur headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.