Bmc Goes Into Preventive Mode, Plans To Increase Surveillance And Awareness About The Disease
Mumbai : An Andheri resident became the first Mumbaikar to die of swine flu on Monday. The 50-year-old man was admitted to the Kasturba Hospital in Chinchpokli. Before this there were 8 deaths in the city, however, all were visitors.
Meanwhile, Mumbai reported 10 new cases of swine flu on Monday, of which seven were identified as Mumbaikars and the remaining three as outstation patients. With this, the city’s total figure of swine flu cases stands at 161 this year.
The deceased, a resident of Andheri West, was first admitted to Arogya Nidhi Hospital in Juhu on Wednesday and had showed epilepsy seizure symptoms at the time of admission. He was later shifted to Kasturba Hospital on Saturday where he ultimately succumbed to the disease on Monday. The cause of death has been identified as acute respiratory distress in case of bilateral pneumonia in case of seizure disorder by the BMC’s health department.
All the 10 new swine flu patients who are either admitted to various private hospitals or treated on out-patient department (OPD) basis are reported to be stable. With the first swine flu related death of a Mumbaikar, the BMC has planned to increase surveillance and awareness in the city.
“This was the first Mumbaikar who died but we are keeping tab on all the patients in the city and they are doing fine. People should not panic but they need to be more cautious. They should follow certain precautionary measures such as maintaining hygiene and consuming nutritious food,” said Dr Mangala Gomare, head of epidemiology cell at BMC.
At the state level, 442 swine flu cases and 58 deaths have been reported so far this year. Though the city has reported its first death, state epidemiologist Dr Pradeep Awate told FPJ that soon the influenza virus will be wiped out from the city since hot and humid weather has kicked in. “The influenza virus is active in cold weather,
but summer has hit
the city and due to hot weather the virus will no longer be able to survive in the environment,” added Awate.
