No let-up in H1N1 deaths in City

No let-up in H1N1 deaths in City
Bangalore:

The H1N1 influenza virus continued to spread in Bangalore and take a toll over the past 24 hours as a 23-year-old woman became its twelfth victim; another was said to be in a critical condition.

Twenty-three-year old Gayatri died at the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Science (KIMS) late Thursday night. A resident of Tumkur, Gayatri was admitted to KIMS on August 15 after she complained of fever and breathlessness. Her throat swab sample was collected and Tamiflu was administered two days before she tested positive for the H1N1 on August 19. She, however, succumbed to the disease the next day due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

The H1N1 contagion showed no signs of being contained as 18 fresh cases tested positive for the virus, taking the total number of cases to 248 in the State. One critical case was reported at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD) where a 23-year-old man was admitted in the ICU and put on ventilator after being diagnosed for renal failure. Victoria Hospital screened around 186 patients and collected 27 swab samples for testing. Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr B G Tilak said there were two sets of doctors to screen and treat H1N1 influenza patients. “However, the number of persons reporting for screening has decreased lately,” he said. Victoria is treating one H1N1 positive and six suspected patients in its isolation ward. At Lakeside Medical Centre and Hospital too the number of persons reporting for screening has come down significantly. Hospital director Dr H Paramesh said, “Since Thursday, the flow of people coming in for screening has reduced up to 60 per cent.” Three suspected H1N1 patients, including a child, are admitted in the ICU.

Jayanagar General Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Nagaraj said that his hospital received around 30 persons for screening and that the doctors have collected seven swabs for testing.

KC General Hospital has one positive patient admitted and, since August 13, it has screened 440 persons, besides collecting 61 swabs for testing. Since the implementation of the new Union Health Ministry guidelines, the hospital has collected 15 swabs under category ‘C’.