Thiruvananthapuram: An H1N1 alert has been issued in the state following the floods in Kerala. According to reports, the health department has issued a warning in the state after 38 people have been confirmed to have contracted the disease and three people died of H1N1 in the state in the last month.

 In this year, a total of 42 people died, and 821 people were confirmed with the disease in the state.

Also read: Normalcy returning to flood-hit Kerala, death toll reaches 113

 The department said that children below two, pregnant women, elderly people and those who are undergoing treatment for kidney issues should be more cautious.

Special care is recommended for those influenza patients with cancer or HIV. Follow the cough/cold etiquette to prevent the transmission of the virus. Cover your face when you cough or sneeze, the health department said.

The state health department has advised people who show symptoms of cold, cough, fever, sore throat, chills and body aches to rush to the hospital for immediate attention.

For children, the symptoms are drowsiness, high and persistent fever, convulsions, difficulty in breathing and worsening of chronic conditions. They also said people with flu should stay home and keep away from crowded public places.

It is also reported that complications may lead to pneumonia, breathing problems and lung infections. The health department has issued instructions including covering of nose and mouth while coughing and sneezing, thorough hand washing, avoiding self-medication and isolated care for the affected to contain its spread.