Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday said about 32 people have died due to swine flu in the state in 2017.

“The total number of deaths caused due to swine flu in the state are 32,” Bali Bhagat, Minister In-charge Health and Medical Education Department said in a written reply to the question raised by the Legislator Qaiser Jamsheed Lone in the Upper House. On preventive measures taken, the Minister replied, “Separate isolation wards have been established in the Government Medical College Jammu an Srinagar and have been equipped with central oxygen, air suction supply and ventilator.”

“Separate trained staff is deployed round the clock, H1N1 testing labs are functional at CD hospital Srinagar and GMC, Jammu, where rapid tests for diagnoses are conducted,” he replied. The Minister added that Personal Protective Equipment’s are provided to all the health care workers who are at the risk of exposure,” he also said the services of media are used to issue advisory and create awareness among the general public about the disease.