29 swine flu cases reported from Kutch district in Gujarat

As many as 29 cases of swine flu, including one death, has been reported in Gujarat's Kutch district during last two weeks, forcing the administration to gear up to tackle the disease, officials said.

"29 swine flu cases have been registered in Kutch district in Gujarat, after which a team from Gandhinagar led by the Deputy Director Dinkar Raval in the Epidemic Control Department along with Additional Director B S Jesalpura landed in Kutch to review the situation," Kutch District Collector Mahendra Patel said.

"One swine flu infected person died two weeks ago. However, the cause of death was diagnosed as multiple organ failure," Patel said, adding that 14 people were discharged after giving them proper care.

"Swine flu is a contagious disease, which spreads through breathing or other forms of personal contract with infected people, but we have controlled it so far," Patel said after being asked the reasons behind the sudden spurt in January.

District health department officials said that the team in Gandhinagar briefed local health officers here about swine flu and asked them to adopt the motto of 'Information, Education and Communication' to combat the disease.

If the local health officers would inform, educate and communicate with people about swine flu disease, then the epidemic could be controlled, the official said.

According to district health department sources, around 28 swine flu cases were registered last year, which has been increased within two weeks of January.