H1N1 grips Bhatkal

KARWAR: Several villages of Bhatkal taluk, including Hadlur, Hallari, Ashikan, Hakodlu are in the grip of swine flu fear now. As many as 22 people of Hadlur village of Konur Gram Panchayat were brought to government hospital at Bhatkal with the help of ‘108-ambulance’ service on Friday. They have been reportedly suffering from swine flu symptoms, including fever, body pain, cold and cough.

On Wednesday, a three-and- a-half-year-old child, Bhagyashri Shukru Gowda of Hadlur village died of swine flu at the KMC Hospital in Manipal. The hospital authorities confirmed on Friday that the child died of swine flu. District Health Officer Dr Shivanna Reddy also confirmed it.

In fact the entire family of Bhagyshri, including her father Shukru Gowda, his pregnant wife and his another daughter, Nagashri, who have been suffering from fever, are being treated at the Manipal Hospital now. Meanwhile Bhatkal MLA JD Naik visited the local government hospital.

Taluk health officer Manjunath Shetty said that Tamiflu tablets are available in government hospitals for treating the swine flu patients.