Second swine flu death has been reported in Mumbai taking the toll 196, reports have said. A 72-year-old woman died of the disease in Maharashtra’s Kurla among 6 cases reported by municipal health officers this month from Mumbai. overall, the toll from swine flu (H1N1) in Maharashtra is nearing 200.
The 72-year-old from Kurla, died at the Kohinoor Hospital on May 12. On April 28, an 18-month-old boy from Malad died of H1N1.
“She was suffering from high blood pressure and ischemic heart disease . While she was rushed to the hospital at 3am, doctors pronounced her dead within six hours of treatment,” said the officials.
Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said that they have screened the locality of the woman’s residence, checking up on more than 3, 776 people and 750 families. “Six residents were diagnosed with fever in the same locality and they were immediately sent for treatment,” said Keskar.
Maharashtra public health officials state that till May 14, 196 deaths have been reported from the state. “Through wide surveillance, we have screened suspected population of 7,62,489 and 13,524 patients underwent treatment. Pune, Nashik, Solapur and Aurangabad remain our focus areas because most of the cases are being reported from these vicinities,” said the official. As of now, 19 people suffering from swine flu are on ventilator support throughout Maharashtra.
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According to experts, the wearing off the effect of vaccines and changes in temperature could be the some of the reasons for the spike in number of swine flu cases “As a precaution, we have intensified screening and surveillance for all viral infections and are vaccinating high-risk groups, such as diabetics and people with high blood pressure,” Dr Pradeep Awate, head, state epidemiology department.
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