The health department is on alert after receiving reports that a farmer of Kichana village in the district reportedly died of swine flu in Sector 32 Chandigarh.

After getting reports about this death, team of health department visited the village and started distributing Temiflue tablets to those who were in contact with the diseased farmer. Kaithal CMO Dr R K Nain told the reporter here on Monday that the deceased farmer was admitted to a private nursing home last week.

After some treatment he was discharged and went to his native village. However, when his condition again deteriorated he was admitted in Govt hospital sector 32 in Chandigarh where he died on Saturday, Dr Nain added. Dr Nain said that the local branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA) has been asked through its secretary to immediately report to health authorities if any case of swine flue came to their notice.

He also informed that besides this, the department teams have started creating awakening among people by distributing pamphlets about the preventive steps to be taken for prevention of this disease. Meanwhile, Sarpanch Parveen Kichana said in a statement that the health department was not taking effective steps to check spread of this disease.