First suspected swine flu death in Punjab, H1N1 cases rise to 220

Punjab has recorded its first suspected swine flu death after an 85-year-old Jalandhar man tested positive for H1N1 and died during treatment. Officials said a health audit will determine the cause as cases rise across the state.Punjab sees first suspected swine flu death (Photo: Representative)Punjab has reported its first suspected swine flu death of the season, with an 85-year-old man dying in Jalandhar after testing positive for H1N1. The development comes as confirmed swine flu cases in the state have climbed to 220 this year, with infections rising since August.The deceased, Mool Raj, a resident of Jalandhar, was admitted to the Civil Hospital with breathing difficulties. He had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).According to the health department, Mool Raj tested positive for H1N1 at Government Medical College (GMC), Amritsar, on September 2. He died at the Civil Hospital in Jalandhar on Friday while undergoing treatment.However, the health department has not established H1N1 as the direct cause of death. Officials said Mool Raj was immunocompromised and had multiple co-morbidities, making it difficult to determine whether the infection or his underlying health conditions led to his death. The department has classified the case as a suspected swine flu death and said the final cause will be determined after a formal health audit.Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said the government was closely monitoring the H1N1 situation and that the strain detected in Punjab had not been found to be new or mutated. He also said the possibility of H1N1 being the primary cause of the Jalandhar man's death appeared low, given his age and existing medical conditions.PUNJAB RECORDS 280 CONFIRMED CASES Health department data shows that 1,513 suspected swine flu patients have been tested across Punjab since January. Of these, 220 have tested positive for H1N1.Fourteen new cases were reported on Friday as infections continued to rise.Ludhiana has recorded the highest number of cases at 72, followed by SAS Nagar (Mohali) with 36. Patiala has reported 16 cases, Moga 11 and Jalandhar 10.Rupnagar has recorded nine cases and Fazilka one. The remaining districts have reported between two and eight cases each.CASES ARE RISING SINCE AUGUSTThe health department has observed an increase in swine flu cases since August and has stepped up surveillance and testing across the state.Flu corners and isolation units have been activated at hospitals in different parts of Punjab to facilitate the early identification, testing and treatment of suspected patients.The department is paying particular attention to districts reporting higher numbers while continuing to monitor the spread of H1N1 across the state.NO NEW OR MUTED STRAINS DETECTEDDr Balbir Singh said there was no evidence so far that the H1N1 strain circulating in Punjab was new or had undergone a mutation.The minister and health officials have stressed that the Jalandhar death should not yet be directly attributed to swine flu, with the formal health audit still pending.The health department has urged people experiencing flu-like symptoms to seek medical attention promptly. While the rise in cases has led to increased surveillance and hospital preparedness, officials said the available evidence does not establish H1N1 as the direct cause of the first suspected death of the season.- EndsPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Sep 6, 2026 12:18 IST