Swine flu claims four more lives

Another 50-year-old woman from Palanpur, undergoing treatment in Surat Municipal Corporation-run SMIMER Hospital, succumbed to the H1N1 virus in the evening, said doctors.

The third was a 48-year-old man, resident of Hirabaug circle in Varachha area of Surat also died on Thursday.

Health officials claimed that the first death due to H1N1 this year was reported on Monday.

The deceased was a 25-year-old woman who was having 24 weeks pregnancy. The total death due to the virus in Surat has reached up to four, while 16 cases had turned up positive.

Incharge deputy health commissioner of SMC Dr Hemant Desai said, “We are shocked about such deaths and we have sent out teams to get medical history of the deceased patients.”

A 62-year-old woman died of the virus in Kutch on Thursday taking the toll to three in the district.

“The old woman was Swine flu positive and died in the evening while undergoing treatment. This is the third death here. However, we are waiting for H1N1 report of the other woman who had died on Wednesday evening,” medical superintendent of GK General Hospital, Dr Nimish Pandya, said.

A 35-year-old woman, who was undergoing treatment at state government-run GG Hospital in Jamnagar city, succumbed to the virus late on Wednesday evening, district health officers said. The woman was a resident of Jamnagar city.

“With this, the death toll due to Swine flu has gone up to four. On the other hand, five fresh cases of H1N1 have come to light in last two days and number of positive cases has gone up to 12,” Dr D K Dabhi, chief district health officer of Jamnagar told The Indian Express.

On the other hand, three positive cases of the virus were reported in Kutch, taking the total number up to 36 this winter.

“Currently, nine patients are indoor while the rest have been discharged,” Dr Pandya further said.

In Jamnagar, seven patients were indoor, including granddaughter of woman who had died of Swine flu a few days ago, sources said.

In Ahmedabad, five patients were detected positive of H1N1 virus on Thursday, said a release from Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s health department.

So far in January, out of 17 total cases detected with H1N1 in Ahmedabad, four patients, though all are from outside the city, have died due to this deadly virus.