Delhi reports 4th swine flu death

Delhi reported its fourth victim, while two in Goa and one in Karnataka succumbed to the disease, pushing the nation’s toll to 135, health authorities stated.

In the capital, 69-year-old Durga Prasad Sharma died on Monday afternoon, after undergoing treatment at the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital. According to the health officials, Sharma was a victim of delayed treatment.

“He was admitted to the hospital on Aug 28. He had bronchial asthma for the last 18 years and suffered from renal failure. Though he was not in a critical stage, his condition was bad from the beginning,” disclosed N.K. Chaturvedi, medical superintendent of RML Hospital.

Demise due to delay in treatment
Before being shifted to RML hospital for treatment of renal failure, Prasad was under medical supervision in a private nursing home in Janakpuri. Due to faulty diagnosis, he failed to get the right treatment, resulting in damage to his kidneys.

Sharma was on ventilator and undergoing dialysis. “His x-ray report had confirmed pneumonia. He had tested positive for the virus,” Chaturvedi said.

Meanwhile, a 12-year-old girl was stated critical with respiratory problems and on ventilator at the hospital.

Following detection of a few swine flu cases among students, three public schools in the capital have declared closure for a couple of days.

Update of H1N1 across the country
As of Sept. 8, the total number of positive cases in India was 4,885, with 135 fatalities. In addition, 147 fresh cases were detected on Monday across the nation.

Maharashtra, hit hardest with the maximum deaths and cases, confirmed 32 fresh cases, taking the total number of people affected with the virus to 1,855.

Close on its heels was Delhi, where 34 fresh cases were detected, pushing the number of people infected to 843 - the second highest in the country.

Next in line was Karnataka, the third highest state to be affected by swine flu with 15 new cases, taking its total number to 579.

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad at the 27th meeting of Health Ministers of World Health Organisation (WHOs) South East-Asia region and the 62nd Regional Committee Session of the WHO South-East Asia Region in Kathmandu stated that, “The virus is here to stay and will spread despite our best efforts to prevent its spread.

"The key to control its spread is early detection, complete treatment of confirmed cases and communicating with public at large to create awareness.”