H1N1 influenza: 2 more deaths in State

13 new cases have been reported in Bangalore

Nine-year-old Pooja, a native of Kolar died on August 26 and 30-year-old Rekha from Davangere succumbed to the viral infection on August 27. Their deaths were attributed to the influenza on Saturday.

Pooja was admitted at Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College in Kolar in the morning on August 23. She had fever and cough for five days. However, the same evening, she was shifted to Manipal Hospital in Bangalore.

The patient’s throat swab was taken on the same day and she was given Tamiflu dose.
She was diagnosed with bilateral brocho pneumonia with lower lobe consolidation.
However, the patient, who came from Malur in Kolar district, passed away on August 26. The test results of her swab came as positive three days after she died, on Saturday.

21 fresh cases
Meanwhile, there seems to be slight decrease in the number of positive H1N1 influenza cases in the City. Although, 21 fresh H1N1 cases were reported in the State on Saturday, Bangalore recorded only 13 cases. While Belgaum got three positive cases, one each was confirmed in Mysore, Bellary, Kolar, Davanagere and Bijapur. The total number of positive cases in the State stands at 430, at present.

Guideline
The State government issued a guideline, where the private hospitals will be reimbursed for the procedure and collection of throat swab samples, which are only taken for Category ‘C’ people.

“The total procedure of sample collection - the swab, viral media, Personal Protective Equipment worn by the doctors - and testing will comes to about Rs 2000. The Government will reimburse this amount,” said Dr Usha Vasunkar, Director of Department of Health and Family Welfare.

One tests positive in Mysore
One person has tested positive for H1N1 on here Saturday. With this, the total number of H1N1 positive cases has gone up to two. According to sources, the person has been identified as Shankar (57). He had been admitted to a private hospital a week ago, following flu-like symptoms. The throat swab and the blood sample of Shankar was sent to Bangalore for further examinations, where it was proved positive.

Sources said, he was diabetic and paralytic and was undergoing treatment at the isolation ward of K R Hospital. It may be mentioned here that one-and-a-half-year-old child had been tested positive for H1N1; but discharged after treatment.