Written By: Debjani Arora | Published : August 22, 2015 11:22 AM IST
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) health department confirmed two deaths due to swine flu on Friday, taking the toll to 40 since January 2015. Recently a 74-year-old man from Ghatkopar and an 80-year-old woman from Malad were infected and succumbed to death due to the H1N1 virus. Also, an 11-year-old resident from Bhayander was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri, succumbed to the H1N1 virus on August 20. Here are 10 facts about swine flu you should know.
The man from Ghatkopar had fever and breathlessness since August 14 and two days later was admitted to Fortis Hospital, Mulund. However, he soon suffered a cardiac arrest. Previously he had undergone angioplasty for multiple blockages and also suffered from diabetes. Once the H1N1 virus invaded the body and affected his lungs, this made it difficult to sustain oxygen levels in the body leading to multiple organ failure and subsequent death. When admitted to Fortis, in an attempt to revive him doctors put him on Oseltamivir, the only drug effective in H1N1 treatment, but in vain. Also, read to know if swine flu is curable.
The Malad woman, who succumbed in Chinchpokli's Kasturba hospital, was also suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and TB. She was admitted to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli on August 19, said a senior BMC official. Currently, six swine flu patients are admitted to Fortis hospital, and they are stable. A 26-year-old microbiologist from JJ hospital is also down with the flu and is on Oseltamivir. Four doctors from the department who were in contact with her have been started on preventive prophylactic treatment as well. In fact, with the virus spreading its tentacles over the city, even doctor s health is at stake. Apart from JJ hospital and Government Medical College, Nagpur, there is an acute shortage of N-95 masks across 12 medical colleges in the state. Here is all that you need to know about the drugs used to treat swine flu.
The pangs of the flu
According to healthcare experts, the virus has now become an epidemic in the city and is not restricted to a season anymore. In fact, preventing its spread is the only way to deal with the H1N1 virus. BMC officials are also urging pregnant women to get vaccinated for the same. Anyone affected with high fever, sore throat and runny nose have become a suspect for swine flu these days. A throat swab test is usually done in such case that detects the presence or absence of the virus in 24 hours. Suspected patients are pre-emptively put on Tamiflu medication. Currently, requests have been made to the health department to make them available in adequate quantities.
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