5 more H1N1 suspects hospitalised

MULTAN: Five more H1N1 virus suspects have been admitted to south Punjab hospitals, increasing the number of suspects from 126 to 131, said the health officials.

The number of suspects’ increased in Muzaffargarh, Khanewal and Multan where it reached 11 in Khanewal, 14 in Muzaffargarh and 81 in Multan respectively. However, no death has been reported across in last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Punjab director health has entrusted the responsibility of regional coordinator CDC for south Punjab to epidemiology district coordinator Dr Attaur Rehman keeping in view of his hectic efforts on spreading awareness against the virus. The Punjab government has assigned him liner listing of H1N1, chickenpox and diphtheria and tamiflu capsule. Meanwhile, Bahauddin Zakriyia University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Tahir Amin stressed on adopting precautionary measures to prevent from H1N1 seasonal influenza. He was addressing an awareness seminar on H1N1 here at the university.

The seminar was organised by the BZU Institute of Food Sciences and Nutrition. VC Prof Dr Tahir Amin underlined the need to investigate causes behind spread of disease. He said there was no need to get afraid from virus rather more awareness was needed to counter it.

BZU of Food Sciences and Nutrition Director Prof Dr Saeed Akhtar said adopting precautionary measures was better than treatment.

Two dacoits killed in ‘encounter’: Two alleged dacoits were gunned down during a police encounter here on Wednesday. Jalalpur police had established a picket near Bomb Morr. They intercepted five motorcyclists who opened fire at the police team. Three of them managed to escape from the scene. In cross-firing between the police and the dacoits, two of them were killed but police claimed that they were killed by the firing of their own accomplices.

Police also found two Repeater guns and CNICs from the pockets of dead suspects. They were identified as M Aslam of Michinabad and the other as Aijaz alias Aja resident of Jampur. Police also recovered a motorbike from their custody and Rs700 cash.

“Suspect M Aslam was wanted in dacoity and five police encounters. He was also involved in killing the police officials. The other accused Aijaz alias Jaja was involved in heinous crimes, dacoities and attacking the police parties.” Jalalpur police have registered a case against the accused for attacking the police party and killing two suspects.