LAHORE: Three more patients have died of seasonal influenza in the provincial capital, raising the death toll to seven so far.

Of them two succumbed to the virus a few days ago while another died on Saturday. The health department has confirmed the influenza-related deaths. Out of the total 50 suspected people, the health department has confirmed 23 patients of the seasonal influenza.

The Directorate of the Health Services has issued a province-wide alert to cope with any emergency situation and to take preventive measures using all available resources.

Dr Yaddullah, a senior official of the health department, said Fauzia (23), a resident of Gujranwala, died at the Services Hospital on Saturday while Shaukat Ali (35) of Multan Road succumbed to the virus at a private infirmary.

He said 55-year-old Rehana died of the influenza virus at her home.

He said Rehana was also shifted to the Services Hospital a couple of weeks ago but she suddenly disappeared from the health facility and was declared left against medical advice (LAMA). She later died at her Shahdara’s Al-Habib Park residence.

Dr Yadullah said the reports issued by the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad confirmed deaths of Shaukat Ali and Rehana.

According to the initial findings of the case investigation carried out by a team of health experts of the Directorate of Health Services, Punjab, he said, the youth might have carried the fatal virus from the birds he had kept at his home.

Shaukat was shifted to the Ittefaq Hospital on March 27 shortly after he developed multiple complications including high fever followed by severe pain in joints.

He said the doctors at the hospital suspected Shaukat a patient of swine flu on the basis of the symptoms and the clinical assessment and sent his blood samples to the NIH for analysis after taking into confidence the health department.

Meanwhile, he said, the patient turned critical and was put on ventilator due to failure of the respiratory tract. Shaukat, however, succumbed to the virus on April 1 at the health facility. The official said the reports issued by the NIH confirmed that the patients were suffering from seasonal influenza type A (H1N1).

Health Director General (DG) Dr Zahid Pervez told Dawn a total of 50 suspected patients of the seasonal influenza H1N1 had appeared in Punjab. Of them, 23 were confirmed H1N1 in the test reports issued by the NIH, he said. He confirmed six deaths by the virus so far in Punjab during the last couple of months.

To a question, he strongly denied these deaths by the swine flu saying that the reports were being prepared by the well-reputed institution – NIH Islamabad.

He said the WHO had already issued guidelines to the provincial health department after the resurgence of the seasonal influenza.

According to the WHO guidelines, the seasonal influenza is an acute viral infection that spreads easily from person to person. The influenza viruses circulate worldwide and can affect anybody in any age group.

Dr Zahid Pervez said the health department had a sufficient medicine stock for the treatment of the patients affected by this virus.