Man succumbs to H1N1 virus in Vadodara

A 42-year-old man succumbed to H1N1 virus or swine flu late on Saturday night after being in isolation for a week at a city hospital. This took the swine flu death toll in Vadodara to two this year.  The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) that has registered John Lodricks’ death stated that seven cases of H1N1 have been reported since January.

John Lodricks, a resident of Makarpura, succumbed at a city hospital on Saturday night. He is survived by his widow and a nine-year-old son. Lodricks, who was diagnosed with the H1N1 strain a week ago, had been kept in isolation. VMC officials confirmed Lodricks’ death due to H1N1, but denied that the virus posed any threat of spreading in the neighbouring areas.

Dr Devesh Patel, VMC Health Officer said, “H1N1 virus has now become local and is dependent on the climate. We had issued information to make residents aware of what they must do to avoid any chances of the H1N1 attack. The notification has been taken back as the threat of the virus is now low. However, we have checked the area of Lodricks’ residence and the neighbourhood was to be at no risk of contracting the virus. This was an isolated case.”

Patel said the VMC has recorded seven confirmed cases of H1N1 since January, this year. Lodricks’ case is the second death due to H1N1 in this year. Currently, no other patient has been isolated or suspected to have H1N1.