H1N1 death: A 35-year-old succumbs to death in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: A 35 year old lady from Hoskote died due to influenza H1N1 in Vaidehi Institute of Medical Sciences in Bengaluru on Friday evening. She happened to be the second victim of H1N1 in 2015 in Karnataka.
On Thursday, a 52 old man, a retired Tahasildar in Bidar had succumbed to H1N1. "In his case, we found that the he had travelled to Andra and was also admitted there. He expired in Bidar.He was tested positive for H1N1 virus," said health department officials.
In BBMP area, there have been 38 positive cases of H1N1 and 13 cases confirmed positive in Bengaluru urban district. In Karnataka, there have been 70 positive cases diagnosed so far since January 2015. The deceased lady had recently been to Andra and was admitted to a private hospital in Hoskote. She was brought to Vaidehi Institute of Medical Sciences on January 31, 2015 and had condition only worsened. To begin with she only had cough, cold and fever, said health department officials.
Speaking to TOI, confirming the deaths, U T Khader, Health minister said that in both the cases, the deceases persons had travelled to Andra from where they must have contracted the viral infection. "Last year too, we had seen rising number of infection in the state during this time of the year. Everyone has to be cautious but not panic struck. Those who are infected must make sure that they don't come in contact with others and thus prevent spreading. An emergency meeting was held Thursday and all Taluk, district hospitals have been provided with all support to gear up to the cause. We shall also look into the matter of screening those travelling from H1N1 affected areas like Rajastan, Andra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat at the Kempegowda International airport," said Khader.
A week ago, the state's taluk hospitals and even Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest diseases was not supplied with Oseltamivir, (known as Tamiflu) an antiviral medication used to prevent and treat influenza. "In 2010-11 when the number of cases had increased, we had got the medicine supplied directly from the central government. But later, as the number of cases decreased, the state government had not supplied the medicine. Being an autonomous institute, we could procure the medicine. But the worst affected are the taluk level hospitals," said a senior doctor from an autonomous institute.
Minister said that the supply of medicines will be looked into on priority basis.