One more dies of H1N1 in Multan

MULTAN: The H1N1 virus caused one more death of a 75-year-old woman on Tuesday, increasing the death toll to 18 from 17, said the health officials.

Moreover, 12 new H1N1 virus suspects were admitted to Nishtar Hospital in last 24 hours, escalating the number of patients from 114 to 126.

Talking to journalists, Nishtar Hospital epidemiology focal person Dr Attaur Rehman said that there were 45 suspects in Multan with H1N1 positive out of 80 admissions. At least 32 patients were reported as H1N1 negative.

He said the 75-year-old woman belonged to Multan and she was already carrying hepatitis C with H1N1 positive. He said that 126 H1N1 virus suspects had been reported across south Punjab districts, including 80 in Multan, five in Dera Ghazi Khan, nine in Khanewal, 12 in Muzaffargarh, four in Vehari, one in Toba Tek Singh, three in Lodhran, three in Rajanpur, four in Layyah, two in Rahimyar Khan, one each in Jhang and Sahiwal respectively.

Senior physician Dr Sheikh Abdul Khaliq said that prevention from H1N1 was possible by using some precautionary measures. “One of the most important things you can do to avoid contracting H1N1 and many other viruses is to wash your hands before eating meals. Using warm water and soap are good ways to ward off germs,” he informed.