Andheri resident succumbs to H1N1, city’s first casualty this yr

MUMBAI: Even as the city is reeling under the onslaught of dengue, swine flu claimed its first victim this year on Thursday. A 50-year-old Andheri resident succumbed to the respiratory disease in a private suburban hospital.
The deceased had been down with fever, chills, breathlessness and cough since October 25 and sought treatment from a private physician. He got admitted to a private hospital on November 30 after his condition did not improve and was later tested for H1N1.
BMC epidemiologist Dr Mangala Gomare confirmed the death saying the patient tested positive for the virus on Wednesday. “He was started on Tamiflu soon after the report. He also developed pneumonia in the course of his ailment,” she said. The patient developed respiratory complications and succumbed to the disease on Thursday. The BMC has begun contact tracing to check if other members of the family were also infected with the virus.
Swine flu may be dormant in the city but has been affecting people across the state. It has claimed over 300 lives in the state over the last three years.
Dr Om Srivastava, who heads Jaslok Hospital’s infectious department, said the virus has been causing significant damage outside Mumbai. Compared to 149 deaths in 2013 and 135 the year before, 37 swine flu deaths have been reported so far this year in Maharashtra.
“It is therefore important that those with compromised immunity, pregnant women and children remain extra vigilant,” he said.