H1N1 claims one more life in Multan

MULTAN: One more female suspect of H1N1 influenza virus succumbed to disease at Nishtar Hospital, increasing the death toll to 26 in south Punjab on Thursday.

Four new suspects have been admitted to hospitals, escalating the number to 198 from 194. Health officials said the virus cycle may continue until increase in temperature or rain in city. Briefing the journalists over fresh updates on the virus, Nishtar Hospital epidemiology focal person Dr Attaur Rehman said Sajida Bibi of district Layyah was expired on Thursday morning. He said the total number of admissions in south Punjab hospitals have reached 198, including 116 in Multan, 29 in Muzaffargarh, 20 in Khanewal, six in Dera Ghazi Khan, six in Vehari, one in Toba Tek Singh, three in Lodhran, three in Rajanpur, seven in Layyah, two in Rahimyar Khan, one each in Jhang, Sahiwal and Faisalabad. The statistics put Multan district at top in receiving H1N1 virus attacks followed by Muzaffargarh and Khanewal. The total number of H1N1 positive suspects is 60, negative 52 and four were waiting for results out of 198.

Health officials said that flu viruses were more stable in cold air, and low humidity also helps the virus particles to remain in the air. Viruses float in the air in little respiratory droplets. When the air is humid, those droplets pick up water, grow larger and fall to the ground, explained Dr Palese.