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Swine flu death toll in Mumbai touches 40

A 74-year-old man from Ghatkopar West and an 80-year-old woman from Malad West died of swine flu on Thursday. Also, an 11-year-old resident of Bhayander, who was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri, succumbed to the H1N1 virus on August 20.

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With nearly two deaths almost daily for the past week, swine flu has emerged as a deadly virus in the city. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC's) health department confirmed the death of two patients on Friday, taking the toll since January this year to 40.

A 74-year-old man from Ghatkopar West and an 80-year-old woman from Malad West died of swine flu on Thursday. Also, an 11-year-old resident of Bhayander, who was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri, succumbed to the H1N1 virus on August 20.

The Ghatkopar man had fever and breathlessness since August 14 and, two days later, was admitted to Fortis hospital in Mulund. "The moment he was admitted, he suffered a cardiac arrest. We revived him and immediately put him on Oseltamivir, the only drug effective in H1N1 treatment," said Dr Pradip Shah, physician, Fortis hospital.

The deceased had earlier undergone angioplasty for multiple blockages in his heart. "He also had diabetes and high blood pressure," said Shah. "After his lungs collapsed, oxygen levels in his body were not being maintained adequately. This caused multiple-organ failure, his blood pressure dropped, the pumping action of his heart failed and he went into shock."

The Malad woman, who succumbed in Chinchpokli's Kasturba hospital, was also suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and TB. "She was admitted to Shatabdi hospital in Kandivli on August 19," said a senior BMC official. Currently, six swine flu patients are admitted in Fortis hospital. They are stable.

"We are testing whosoever comes with high fever, sore throat and runny nose for swine flu. The throat swab test detects the presence or absence of the virus within 24 hours. Suspected patients are preemptively put on Tamiflu medication," said Shah.

BMC epidemiologist Dr Mini Khetarpal said, "The virus has become endemic in the city and few cases are being picked up throughout the year. It is no longer season-specific. We are recommending that pregnant women get themselves vaccinated."

Docs not safe either
A 26-year-old resident doctor from the microbiology department in JJ hospital is down with swine flu. "She has been started on Oseltamivir. Four doctors from the department who were in contact with her have been started on preventive prophylactic treatment as well," said Dr Sagar Mundada, president, MARD. Apart from in JJ hospital and Government Medical College, Nagpur, there is an acute shortage of N-95 masks across 12 medical colleges in state. "We have written to the health department to make them available in adequate quantities," said Mundada.

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