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NDTV Correspondent, Sunday December 20, 2009, New Delhi

Delhi is now the hub of the swine flu outbreak, and the biggest problem in dealing with patients who had a severe case of the flu, is a basic lack of infrastructure in hospitals and nursing homes. And this came as shock for the family of 24-year-old Umesh, who tested positive for H1N1, when they had to visit four hospitals within a span of four hours, because none of the hospitals had ventilators.

10,000 swine flu deaths in US: estimates

Agence France-Presse , Friday December 11, 2009, Washington

An estimated 10,000 people including 1,100 children died of swine flu in the United States in the seven months after the new strain of flu was first detected in April, a top US health official said.

First swine flu death reported

Indo-Asian News Service, Sunday December 13, 2009, Srinagar

A 21-year-old woman succumbed to swine flu in Srinagar, becoming the first victim of the H1N1 virus in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday. Muskan from Tullamulla was admitted to the Soura medical institute on December 1 after she developed acute respiratory distress.

Tamiflu not effective?

NDTV Correspondent, Thursday December 17, 2009, New Delhi

Oseltamivir, better known as Tamiflu or Fluvir, if taken within 48 hours, is the only drug that can treat swine flu or H1n1 pandemic flu in the initial stages. But a new study published in British Medical Journal shows there is no data to show whether it works in patients who have developed complications, such as severe respiratory infections. Without such evidence, no drug can be used for a public health emergency like a global pandemic. The study says that drugs like aspirin may actually be better to treat swine flu.

Ayurveda and swine flu

Um-e-kulsoom, Maya Sharma, Sunday August 23, 2009, New Delhi, Bangalore

With life coming under the swine flu shadow, more and more people are looking at ways to prevent contracting the virus. So, after much thought, the alternative medicine department of the Health Ministry has issued guidelines to build immunity of the body.

New drug for swine flu offers hope

Andrew Pollack, New York Times News Service, Friday November 6, 2009, Washington

Athena Gurno thought her allergies were acting up when she started coughing in early October. But within days, Gurno, the 30-year-old mother of a young girl, was in a Seattle hospital, close to death from the H1N1 flu.

Spicy Indian curry could prevent swine flu

Press Trust of India, Friday November 6, 2009, Moscow

Spicy Indian curries could prevent swine flu and common cold just like any prescribed medicine available with the chemists, Russian doctors have said. "You can strengthen immunity by consuming spicy foods like curries, as spices like turmeric, ginger and zeera also posses excellent therapeutic effect," an unnamed official of Moscow city sanitary and anti-epidemics committee was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

Swine flu: Who's most vulnerable?

NDTV Correspondent, Friday August 28, 2009, New Delhi

The initial 30 swine flu deaths have been studied by the Health Ministry. The conclusion: ''People in age group of 14 and 44 years have been the worst hit, '' according to R K Shrivastava, Director General of Health Services.

Swine flu: The public-private gap

NDTV Correspondent, Sunday December 13, 2009, New Delhi

After the initial hesitation, the government included private hospitals in the fight against swine flu. But lately, they are facing flak from the government once again. So far, there are 670 deaths due to swine flu in our country, and according the health ministry most of it is due late reporting, for which they hold private doctors responsible.

Ahmedabad

3 more die of swine flu in Gujarat

Press Trust of India, Thursday December 10, 2009, Ahmedabad

Three persons including a four-month old boy and two women succumbed to swine flu on Thursday, taking the H1N1 death toll to 55 in Gujarat, state health officials said on Thursday. Four-month-old Nirmal Maheshwari, Diharjben Chavda (30) both of Gujarat and one Premabai (30) from Rajasthan died on Thursday, state health officials said.

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