Mumbai : The city reported two new swine flu-caused deaths on Saturday, taking the toll to 30. Besides, 52 new cases of swine flu were reported on the day, raising doubts about whether the soaring mercury will abate the spread of the disease.
A 38-year-old man from Mira Road and a 42-year-old woman from Raigad are the latest victims of the deadly virus in the city. The man was admitted to Bhaktivedanta Hospital on March 11 for symptoms of swine flu but when his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Kasturba Hospital on the same day. He died of type I respiratory failure on Friday.
The female victim was taking treatment in MGM Hospital, after which she was transferred to Kasturba Hospital on March 11. She, too, died on March 13 of H1N1. This takes the total number of deaths in the city to 30, of which only nine were people native to the city and 21 were visitors.
Besides, the city reported 52 fresh cases of H1N1 taking the figure to 1,263. Of the newly admitted, 13 are children. All the patients have been reported stable by the BMC but health experts are now worried when the influenza will recede.
The entire state has been reeling under the epidemic-like situation of swine flu and experts were hoping that as the summer sets-in, the flu will recede.
Mumbai has been experiencing soaring temperatures typical to summer from the beginning of March but the flu seems to be unabated. Experts have now asked citizens to take all possible precautions until the danger has passed.
[alert type=”e.g. warning, danger, success, info” title=””]
Cases On Rise In Vasai–Virar
Palghar : Vasai taluka has seen an increase in swine flu cases with the number of confirmed cases now moving into double digits with 10 people diagnosed positive for this deadly flu besides 15 suspected cases. Out of the confirmed cases one has opted to get treated in a Mumbai hospital while one is admitted in a Nalasopara hospital. The Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) has gone all out to tackle this issue before it further intensifies and gives an epidemic scare.
Taking into consideration the increasing number of swine flu patients, the VVMC’s medical team is not leaving any stone unturned as team of doctors and nurses spend most of the time on the field screening societies to stop the spread of the disease by prescribing timely medication. Not only are they offering treatment to confirmed cases but are also keeping the suspected cases on symptomatic medication. The VVMC has urged people to take precautionary steps and come forward to get basic screening done at any of its 18 OPDs or 9 health posts across Vasai taluka.
While speaking to FPJ, Dr. Anupama Rane, Chief Medical Officer, said, “The situation is under control and we are doing our best to control the spread of swine flu. Patients diagnosed positive for the disease are also being offered free medication. I appeal to people to take precautionary measures and visit a doctor in case of doubts.”
The CMO is happy that all the private hospitals have come together to fight this dreaded flu and provide proactive notification to the VVMC’s medical team when they come across a suspected case.
However, barring a couple of hospitals, none of the private hospitals can treat a swine flu case in Vasai Virar as they are unable to fulfill the government norms required to start a quarantine room.
Vishal Rajemahadik
[/alert]
