Steps taken to prevent spread of H1N1 in Jammu: official

A day after swine flu claimed the third life in the region in as many months, officials asked people to not panic, assuring them of adequate steps to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.
"There is no need to panic. Necessary measures have been put in place to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus and dengue," state surveillance officer for the integrated disease control programme Dr J P Singh Jamwal told PTI today.
Three people died and seven others tested positive for swine flu while 248 cases of dengue were reported since July in the Jammu region.
The latest victim was a youth from Rajouri who died on September 29, but the cause of his death came to light on October 6 after his report tested "positive" for swine flu.

Besides him, a 43-year-old woman died from the virus on August 25 while a 50-year-old from Ramban district passed away on September 10.
Singh said tests for dengue are being conducted at several government hospitals in the city.
"Out of 1,314 cases screened for dengue, only 248 patients tested positive while 310 reports are awaited," he said, adding that the majority of the patients recovered completely after treatment.
Jammu divisional commissioner MK Bhandari yesterday called for expediting the verification of blood samples taken for tests, so that persons with the symptoms of dengue and swine flu can be treated quickly.