Swine flu death toll reaches eight people

The H1N1 virus has caused the death of eight people in Georgia this winter.

In every case, delayed hospitalisation caused fatal results, stated Amiran Gamkrelidze, director of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health.

One out of the eight victims was a pregnant woman, another was a young man who had severe pneumonia and was hospitalised late; the rest had chronic diseases, such as tumor, acute heart failure and other issues”, added Gamkrelidze.

Today, Rustavi Central Hospital was quarantined due to an outbreak of the H1N1 virus.

Currently 12 patients are being treated in the Hospital. Most of them are suffering from high temperature, weakness and vomiting.

Although the flu infection level has increased recently, there is no reason to panic. There is no risk of an epidemic", added Gamkrelidze. 

For the next two weeks no sharp increase is expected in the spread of the flu virus, as the educational process in schools and kindergartens has not been resumed yet, reports National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health.

Antiviral medication Tamiflu is free of charge for pregnant women and socially vulnerable groups.

The symptoms of H1N1 virus are almost the same as the seasonal flu and may involve cough, fever, sore throat, body and headaches and fatigue.