5 more deaths take swine flu toll to 111

The death of 14-year-old Reeda Sheikh, the first person to succumb to the virus in the country, was reported on Aug. 3. The influenza has thus accounted for 111 deaths within a month.

Out of the latest five victims, three belonged to Karnataka while a death each was reported from Maharashtra and Gujarat. All the three deaths in the state of Karnataka were reported from Bangalore.

Meanwhile, the city of Pune, the epicenter of the current swine flu in the nation, reported the lone death of Maharashtra. Vadodara in Gujarat reported the third death of the day.

With Thursday's three deaths, Karnataka’s death toll has risen to 31. Maharashtra continues to be the worst hit state with 58 deaths. The state of Gujarat has reported 9 deaths so far.

Infections continue to soar
Another 166 confirmed swine flu infections were reported from various parts of the country yesterday. The tally of those affected by H1N1 has risen to 4,364 after accounting for the Thursday’s infections.

“Till date, samples from 23,519 people have been tested for influenza A(H1N1) in various government laboratories across the country and 4,364 of them have been found positive,” a statement issued by the health ministry said.

In terms of infections, Maharashtra again is the worst hit state. The 43 cases reported yesterday took the tally of infections to 1738 in the state.

Delhi reported another 32 cases yesterday. The total number of people affected in the national capital has gone up to 707 with Thursday’s additions.

Andhra Pradesh (15), Kerala (4), Haryana (8), Gujarat (4), Goa (4) and West Bengal (2), Jammu and Kashmir (1), Pondicherry (1) and Chhattisgarh (1) also reported fresh cases on Thursday.

Only 9 victims out of the latest 166 infections have a travel history to an affected country. The others are all indigenous cases.

Infant successfully battles swine flu
Amid all the latest infections and deaths that tell the story of a horrendous pandemic, a two-and-a-half-month old child has scripted quite a different story.

The boy, named Akash, was admitted to R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital on Aug. 12. He had acute respiratory disorder and was diagnosed with childhood asthma. When his condition deteriorated, his samples were sent for testing and the worst fears came true. He was H1N1 positive.

After battling for life for weeks and with the help of a dedicated team of doctors, Akash has recuperated well.

"It was a deadly concoction of asthma and swine flu. The team of doctors and nurses had to be on their toes to save the boy," said Dr R Chatterjee, paediatrics head at RG Kar.

"We had almost given up hope. I really do not know how to thank the doctors who have snatched my son from the jaws of death," said Pradip Chaudhary, the boy’s father.