Two more cases of H1N1 reported in Alappuzha

ALAPPUZHA: With the reports of two more H1N1 cases on Saturday, the total number of people who have been affected by H1N1 has risen to 28 in the district.District Medical Officer K M Sirabuddin told ‘Express’ that a 4-year-old boy and an 18-year old girl, both from Karthikapally taluk, were tested positive on Tuesday.A 45-year-old man, hailing from Haripad, was also tested positive on Friday and his condition is said to be critical.He was admitted to a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.According to District Medical Officer (DMO) K M Sirabuddin , of the 14 cases, four are children below the age of two and one is a pregnant woman.No fewer than five doctors were also affected by the disease.On Tuesday alone, 14 H1N1 cases have been reported in the district.The cases were reported from Haripad, Karthikapally, Kuttanadu, Purackadu, Kainakary, Vandanam, Thakazhi, Kalarcode, Karuvatta and Pulinkunnu areas on Tuesday.On July 7, Union Minister K C Venugopal directed to take immediate steps for filling vacancies of doctors and nursing assistants and ensuring the availability of sufficient medicine in all the hospitals.Last year, 34 cases of H1N1 had been reported and the the number of deaths due to the fever was two.State H1N1 nodal officer Amar Fettle on Saturday conducted a special training programme on H1N1 at Alappuzha Medical College Hospital for the doctors of Alappuzha, Kollam and Pathanamthitta district.