3 Swine Flu deaths registered in Mumbai; more than 350 cases reported

H1N1 or swine flu has already claimed three lives in Mumbai; among them is a pregnant woman from Dharavi, a man from Mankhurd and a girl from Malvani. With the three deaths, the number of people who have succumbed to the infection has risen to 16 this year. The 24-year-old pregnant woman, who was admitted to Sion Hospital after developing fever, cough and throat pain, was given Tamiflu treatment but died soon after she contracted pneumonia two days later. The 45-year-old man who died was also hospitalised under similar circumstances. The young girl who died was admitted to a hospital in Navi Mumbai where she died of acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Civic officials have swung into action, surveying 500 houses and 2,614 people from the slums to identify more cases of fever. This year, 353 cases of H1N1 infection have been reported by the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and 68 of those were outstation patients. In the last week alone, at least 92 cases of H1N1 have been reported across the city and there is a considerable strain on resources like the ICU wards due to the sudden influx of fever patients.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease with symptoms that include fever, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body ache and fatigue.

The financial capital has also reported scores of cases related to monsoon-related diseases. Between June 16 and 22, Mumbai recorded 95 malaria cases, 201 of gastroenteritis, two of leptospirosis and one of dengue, said the statement issued by the Public Health Department of the civic body.

Civic health officers have advised people not to panic and seek medical help if they experience symptoms related to different ailments. “People should contact the doctor or nearest medical health centre or hospital in case of persistent symptoms like cough, cold and fever for more than four days,” Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer of the BMC, said.