45 fresh flu cases

Thiruvananthapuram: Forty-five new cases of H1N1 and one death due to the infection were confirmed in the State on Thursday.

The new cases include 10 from Malappuram, seven from Kozhikode, six cases each from Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam, four cases each from Kottayam, Thrissur and Kasaragod, three from Alappuzha and one case from Kollam.

The H1N1 death confirmed was that of Fathima (45) of Palapetty, Malappuram, who died at Amala Hospital, Thrissur on Thursday, while under treatment for fever, pneumonia and ARDS.

The death toll due to H1N1 infection since May has now gone up to 37, while the confirmed cases have crossed the 800 mark.

Senior health officials said that they were quite concerned about Ernakulam, from where more cases and deaths should be expected because the level of alertness about H1N1 among medical fraternity as well as the public continued to remain very poor there, despite consistent appeals from the Health Department.