xth swine flu death in Pune

35-year-old man became the sixth victim of swine flu in Pune Sassoon Hospital early Wednesday.
According to an official of the State Swine Flu Control Room, Sanjay Mistry, a resident of Pimpri, near Pune, was admitted to the hospital last Sunday in a critical condition and put on a ventilator.
With this, the total number of swine flu casualty in Maharashtra has gone up to eight.
Currently, there are five critical patients in the Pune Sassoon Hospital and another two critical patients in a Mumbai hospital.
Two more people have died of swine flu in Gujarat and one each in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Kerala man is 11th swine flu victim
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 11 (IANS) A 31-year-old man died here Tuesday as the swine flu toll in India rose to 11 in a matter of nine days.
Wilson Lukose died at a private hospital at around 9.30 p.m., Kerala Health Minister P.K. Sreemathi confirmed.
Lukose had come from A 31-year-old man died here Tuesday as the swine flu toll in India rose to 11 in a matter of nine days.
Wilson Lukose died at a private hospital at around 9.30 p.m., Kerala the US to Chennai and then to his home here. He was hospitalised five days ago and his condition worsened Monday, officials said.
This was the first case of swine flu death in Kerala, where 55 people have been confirmed positive, and nine of them are still in hospital.
Swine flu claims four lives, toll rises to 11
New Delhi/Mumbai/Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 11 (IANS) India was gripped by a swine flu scare Tuesday and authorities stepped up efforts to curb the spread of the contagious virus that claimed four victims, taking the nationwide death toll to 11 in a matter of only nine days.
A worried Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad urged the chief ministers to take urgent steps to tackle the H1N1 disease that was unknown to India till the first case was reported May 16.
On Tuesday, a record 119 people were tested positive, with the virus spreading to cities like Jammu, Osmanabad, Nagpur, Nasik and Manipal. Of the 1,079 positive cases in India, 589 have been discharged, health ministry officials said.
The latest swine flu victims were a 13-year-old girl in Pune, the worst hit city where five people have died, a 63-year-old woman in Mumbai, a seven-year-old girl in Vadodara, and a 31-year-old man in Thiruvananthapuram.
Azad, who has immersed himself in the war against swine flu, telephoned some chief ministers Monday night and some Tuesday morning to warn that complacency could lead to a disaster.
Officials said he discussed with them urgent measures needed to combat the spread of the virus that has affected 1,079 people in India.
He also met senior bureaucrats tasked to visit various state to help contain the spread of the virus that originated in Mexico and has sparked a global scare.
Even as Minister Azad held a high-level meeting in New Delhi, Shruti Gavde, who tested positive last Saturday, died in Pune's Sassoon Hospital, barely hours after pharmacist Sanjay Tilekar died there Monday night.
A student of A.D. High School in Pune, Shruti had been admitted to the hospital Sunday in critical condition.
In the Maharashtra capital Mumbai, Shahida Warsi died at a private hospital. "The deceased was from Thane and had been brought to Mumbai for treatment," said Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar.
She had been brought to Mumbai's Noor Hospital in Byculla five days ago for treatment.
In Gujarat's Vadodara city, a girl died in a government hospital after being under ventilator for two days. She had been brought in for treatment Aug 7, said Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas.
"The girl had no history of how she contracted the virus," Vyas said.
This was the second death reported in Gujarat on account of the swine flu. The first victim was NRI Pravin Patel, who came from Atlanta in the US and died Sunday.
In the Kerala capital , Wilson Lukose died at a private hospital at around 9.30 p.m. He had come from the US to Chennai and then to his home in Thiruvanathapuram.
Pune tops the list of casualties with five deaths followed by Mumbai (two) and one each in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Vadodara and Thiruvanathapuram.
Of the 119 positive cases reported Tuesday, Pune, which has been declared the epidemic city, reported 62. It was followed by Mumbai where 24 new cases were recorded.
As more swine flu cases poured in, the Haj Committee advised the elderly, children and pregnant woman to avoid going for the Haj pilgrimage.
Hasan Ahmad, acting chairperson of the Haj Committee of India, said that pilgrims above the age of 65, those younger than 12 years and the pregnant should avoid the pilgrimage this year. Saudi Arabia has issued similar instructions.
In New Delhi, Azad underlined the guidelines to help private labs and hospitals carry out tests and treat suspected patients.
The government had earlier insisted that all patients have to be tested and treated only in state-run hospitals but the enormity of the crisis has forced a change of mind.
Swine flu cast a shadow over the World Badminton Championship in Hyderabad, with the doubles coach of the Malaysian team showing symptoms of the viral disease.
Jeremy Gan has been quarantined at the Andhra Pradesh Chest Hospital, and his samples have been sent for testing, organisers of the event said.
With swine flu spreading panic, face masks are flying off the shelf at pharmacy shops in the national capital. Chemists say they are not getting fresh supplies that are being diverted to Pune.
A 17-year-old footballer, S. Tongber, from Meghalaya Tuesday tested positive for H1N1 virus, marking the first swine flu case in the northeast.
Azad speaks with chief ministers, officials on swine flu
New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Tuesday spoke to the chief ministers to gear up to tackle the growing swine flu menace that has claimed 10 lives and suggested various steps including involving private labs and hospitals.
The minister also met and briefed senior officials, who have been tasked to visit various states to help them contain the spread of the H1N1 virus.
Azad spoke to the chief ministers Monday night and also Tuesday morning, said health officials here.
"While appreciating the efforts being made by the state governments, he emphasized the need to step up the preparedness," according to a statement issued here.
According to a health official: "The health minister met and briefed joint secretaries and additional secretaries drawn from various departments.
"He advised them about capacity buildings in the states," the official told IANS.
These 35 senior bureaucrats will be meeting chief ministers too. These teams have been told to complete their visits before Aug 15.
"The health minister has also requested the chief ministers to meet these senior officials when they conduct the first meeting. This will help in fast-tracking all the decisions," the official said.
The decision to rope in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officials to the various states was taken Monday when Azad held a meeting with Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar and senior health officials.
The central teams will be assisting the state government in identifying the private labs for tests and public and private hospitals for screening, diagnosis and treatment.
"It has been planned to involve central, state, local governmental establishments, medical colleges, institutes and private set-ups in this integrated strategy," the statement said.
The central teams will also discuss the training of the doctors and paramedical personnel and also highlight the importance of awareness campaigns.
Azad Monday had admitted that letters sent to the states about the swine flu pandemic had little impact and said the central government would send senior officials to help them tackle the spread of the disease.
Pune tops the list of casualties with five deaths so far followed two deaths in Mumbai and one each in Ahmedabad, Chennai and Vadodara.
There are 960 swine-flu infected cases, with 95 new cases reported Monday.
Private hospitals to help in swine flu testing: Shiela Dikshit
New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) To tackle the growing number of people queuing up to test for swine flu, the Delhi government may soon allow testing for the Influenza A (H1N1) virus at private hospitals, Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit said Tuesday.
So far, tests are being conducted only at 14 government institutions in Delhi.
"we don't want panic to be spread. We are working out a policy where we would involve private hospitals (for testing) in this. The government of India is doing whatever is possible to see that there is no scarcity of drugs or other requirements that can prevent this flu from spreading," Dikshit told a news channel here.
Over 250 people have tested positive for influenza A (H1N1) in Delhi, of whom 178 have been discharged while 58 are undergoing treatment in designated hospitals.
Panic has spread among residents with the infectious disease claiming 10 lives across the country.
Face masks, especially the safer N95 masks, are flying off the racks at pharmacy shops but chemists say they are not getting fresh supplies as the stocks are being diverted to Pune, where the highest number of cases have been detected and five have already succumbed to swine flu.
The chief minister, however, said that despite the panic buying of face masks, there was "no scarcity".
Asked if there was a shortage of masks and the consequent black marketing of the product in Delhi as reported in the media, Dikshit said: "No I don't think so - so far we have had no scarcity. We are reviewing it all the time and our ministers, the health minister and secretary are doing it. In fact, I called myself last night and I was told there is no scarcity."
She held that quarantine was important in swine flu patients. "Finally, quarantine is very important - both at home and work places and other places."
Record 119 new swine flu cases in India Tuesday
New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) India Tuesday reported 119 new cases of swine flu, highest so far for a single day, taking the total number of the infected people to 1,079. Three people - one in Gujarat and two in Maharashtra - succumbed to the infectious virus, taking to 10 the toll in the country, the health ministry said.
Among the new cases, Pune reported 62, Mumbai 24, Delhi 15, Manipal 2, Ahmedabad 1, Bangalore 4, Nagpur 3, Osmanabad 1, Nashik 1, Goa 1, Hyderabad 2, Thiruvananthapuram 2 and Jammu 1.
Of the 15 cases reported from Delhi, only one has a travel history. The 19-year-old man had returned from Manila via Hongkong.
Among Pune's new cases, one had returned from Saudi Arabia and the 61 others are indigenous cases.
Mumbai reported 24 cases during the day, two of whom have travelled from abroad. All other cases from Maharashtra are indigenous. All cases from Karnataka are from local contract.
While Ahmedabad reported one indigenous case, the patient in Goa had returned from Spain. Of the two cases in Hyderabad one patient has a travel history. The case in Jammu had returned from Mumbai and Pune. One of the two cases in Thiruvanathapuram has returned from Doha.
So far 5,000 people have been tested, of whom 1,079 are positive for influenza A(H1N1). Of the total cases, 589 have been discharged and 10 have died. The remainder of them are admitted to the identified health facilities.
81 new swine flu cases in Maharashtra, Thane civic schools shut
Mumbai, Aug 11 (IANS) Maharashtra, which has witnessed seven of India's 10 swine flu deaths, Tuesday recorded 81 new cases, taking to 408 the total number of people infected in the state , while the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) ordered a five-day closure of all schools under it.
Among the new patients, 74 were in Pune, six in Panchgani and one in Mumbai, State Swine Flu Control Room head Pradip Awati said.
Of the people under treatment in various hospitals, six in Pune's Sassoon Hospital and two in Mumbai's Hiranandani Hospital are serious, he said.
"They are all on ventilators and we are constantly monitoring their condition," he added.
In the meantime, a whopping 35,000 people in Pune have been screened for H1N1 and another 4,500 in Mumbai as panicky citizens rushed to various screening centres opened in public and private hospitals.
Among the seven deaths in the state, five have been in Pune and two in Mumbai.
Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Sharvari Gokhale said Tuesday evening that the latest (second) victim in Mumbai, who passed away Monday morning, was suffering from pneumonia.
"After her death, the Noor Hospital sent her blood samples for check which were received today and were found positive for swine flu," Gokhale told media persons.
Shahida Abdul Aziz Warsi, a 63-year-old resident of Mumbra suburb of adjoining Thane district, passed away Monday, becoming the seventh victim of swine flu in the state.
Even as the Mumbai civic administration decided not to shut down educational institutions in the city, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) ordered a five-day closure of all schools under it, an official said.
While Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak said "the current situation does not warrant steps like Pune" to shut down schools and malls, the civic administration was taking a poll of people over this issue.
"After two days, all educational institutions are getting a three-day break. Moreover, there's no guarantee that swine flu will disappear after a few days just as it had come," Phatak said.
Phatak pointed that even many school principals who interacted with him expressed reservations on shutting educational institutions in the city.
But senior TMC official R.D. Kendre said the civic body's education department had issued orders to shut down civic schools - as opposed to private schools - in its jurisdiction till Sunday as a precautionary measure in view of the swine flu epidemic.
In Mumbai, some private schools, including the prestigious Cambridge School in Kandivli suburb, issued advisories to parents on the dos and don'ts, precautions in school and outside. It has also permitted students to wear masks to school if they want.
15 new suspected swine flu cases in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Aug 11 (IANS) At least 15 new suspected swine flu patients were reported in Chandigarh Tuesday, a health official said.
Seven cases were reported each in the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and at a government hospital in Sector 32. One case was reported at a Sector 16 hospital.
"Seven patients were admitted in hospitals whereas nine have been quarantined at their homes," the health official said.
"There is no need to panic and the situation is well under our control," the official added.
Two more swine flu cases in West Bengal, total reaches 12
Kolkata, Aug 11 (IANS) The number of swine flu patients in West Bengal rose to 12 with two more cases confirmed Tuesday.
"Two more people tested positive for swine flu today (Tuesday) at the designated Beliaghata Infectious Diseases (ID) hospital. Two other suspected swine flu patients took admission," the state government's nodal officer for swine flu Tapas Sen told IANS.
Six people - four confirmed and two suspects - are in the hospital now.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Health Dinesh Trivedi arrived from Delhi along with a six-member team of medical experts and visited the airport and designated hospital for a first hand idea of the facilities for the detection and the treatment of the disease.
They first went to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and saw the screening infrastructure for the disease there. Trivedi gave some directives to the medical officers at the airport.
Later, the team went around the designated ward for the diseases at the ID hospital and interacted with the patients, their families and the doctors.
11 swine flu cases detected in Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow, Aug 11 (IANS) Eleven people in Uttar Pradesh tested positive for swine flu virus Tuesday, taking the total figure of the infected people to 12 in the state.
Eight of these infected people belong to the family of the first swine flu case - five-year-old Hasan Rizvi, who returned from Britain a few days ago.
Hasan is the grandson of former Congress minister Ammar Rizvi.
Of the remaining three, there was an eight-year-old who returned from Singapore recently. The sample of an 18-year-old man from Allahabad has also tested positive, while the third person belongs to Faizabad.
"We had carried out tests of about 50 samples, out of which 11 turned out to be positive," said S. Dhole, professor and head of the department of microbiology at the Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) here.
"But this should not be cause for any kind of panic as each of the detected cases was found carrying only primary infection, that is easily curable," he said.
Asked whether all the detected patients were put in isolation, he said, "Well, we have referred these cases to the district chief medical officer, who is supposed to provide the necessary treatment."
Chief Medical Officer A.K. Shukla said, "All the patients were being looked after well and the required drugs were made available also to those who had preferred to stay in their homes instead of getting admitted to hospitals."
"Fortunately, all the patients looked quite healthy. Even the five-year-old boy, who was the first one to be detected positive in Lucknow last week, looked healthy."
"There is no reason to panic as we are well equipped to deal with the menace," he said.
Nine suspected swine flu cases surface in Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal, Aug 11 (IANS) Samples of nine people, suspected to be infected with swine flu, have been sent to Delhi for testing, health department officials said Tuesday.
The samples include those from two students studying in Pune and one studying in Delhi. The three had voluntarily came to the Hamidia Hospital here - the designated swine flu nodal centre - saying they were in contact with affected people. All the three have been advised to stay away from other people till the test reports are received.
Though not a single case of swine flu has been reported in the state so far, the government has announced health and medical education departments will now jointly work towards checking the disease. It has cancelled leaves of doctors working in health, medical education and gas relief departments.
An official release said a meeting chaired by state Health Secretary S.R. Mohanty decided to shortlist 16 private hospitals in six districts for swine flu treatment, and to open control rooms in medical colleges and offices of the chief medical officers, health officers and divisional joint directors.
It was also decided that samples of suspected swine flu patients be sent to Pune and New Delhi for testing, and the authorities concerned have been directed to send samples to the designated laboratories within 48 hours of collection.
Court to hear plea on swine flu
New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Tuesday admitted a public interest petition charging the government with not having taken adequate measures to tackle swine flu in the capital.
Anjana Jain filed a petition through her counsel Sugreev Dubey accusing the government with not having proper measures for distribution of medicines and masks. She also demanded that masks be made available with local chemists so that its black-marketing can be curtailed.
Delhi has so far reported over 250 cases of swine flu.
"Auto and taxi drivers who are going to airports, railway stations and bus terminals are most vulnerable to the flu and the government should make sure that they wear the masks and take all precautionary measures," the petition states.
Jain also blamed the government for not having sufficient resources to tackle the flu spread.
The petition is likely to be heard Wednesday.
Goa to screen bus passengers from Pune
Panaji, Aug 11 (IANS) All buses from Pune will be screened for possible swine flu infected passengers at two border checkposts in Goa from Wednesday, a top official said.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Sanjiv Srivastava at the state secretariat Tuesday evening.
"Goa receives some 7,000 inter-state buses everyday. The traffic from Pune is around 50 buses. Our health department teams stationed at the Patradevi and Mollem checkposts will be focusing on passengers coming into Goa from Pune using public transport," Srivastava told reporters.
Srivastava said while the screening would be limited to incoming public traffic from Pune initially, the idea was to cover all inbound vehicles coming into Goa in the near future.
"We are focusing on passengers coming in from high-risk areas presently," Srivastava said.
He said the health department's swine flu screening unit at Dabolim airport has been instructed to screen all passengers coming in by Maharashtra flights.
"We are in the process of working out a mechanism to cover passengers coming in by railway to Goa," Srivastava said.
Goa has reported 11 swine flu cases ever since the pandemic broke out a few months ago