JOIN USSwine flu death in Delhi hospital, first this season
The first swine flu death of the season in the capital was recorded recently. A 51-year-old woman from Ghaziabad succumbed to the H1N1 virus at a private hospital here Wednesday.
While six cases of swine flu have been reported so far this month, the total number of cases this year is 32, said a senior official of the Directorate of Health Services.
“The woman was a resident of Ghaziabad. So this death will not be a part of the Delhi records,” said Dr Dalvir Singh, State Epidemiologist, Delhi.
The patient was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on December 21. The woman was critical at the time of admission, said the hospital spokesperson.
First, the woman from Model Town was admitted to Yashoda Hospital and later shifted to Columbia Asia Hospital in Ghaziabad. From there, she was shifted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
“The patient was in a critical state at the time of admission. She had lung failure and was on high frequency ventilatory support. Her diagnosis at Ghaziabad and sgrh confirmed it to be a case of swine flu,” said the spokesperson. The hospital administration refused to identify the patient.
Health Secretary S C L Das was not available for comment on the issue. Dr S K Sharma, Director, Directorate of Health Services (DHS), declined to comment. He did not confirm if any guidelines would be disseminated related to swine flu with the virus claiming one life in the Capital.
The case would be treated as a sporadic death, said a senior official of the Emergency Medical Relief department, Department of Health, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
“There is no reason to panic as there is no possibility of an outbreak. This is a sporadic case,” said the official.
A source in the DHS said there is likely to be no extra-preparedness on part of Delhi government across the state-run hospitals as the number of cases are slim this year.