Meghalaya sounds alert after first swine flu death

Health authorities in Meghalaya on Monday have sounded an alert for swine flu after one of the two patients who had tested positive for H1N1 virus have died in a private hospital, a senior minister said.

This is the first swine flu death in the state in 2018. Swine flu had claimed its first victim in Meghalaya in 2009, health officials said on Monday.

The 57-year-old woman, who was admitted to Nazareth Hospital on October 19, with symptoms of fever, cough, weakness and respiratory distress passed away on Sunday, Critical Care Unit head of the hospital, Dr Himjyoti Das, told PTI. The woman had gone to Pune to attend a family function and on her return, her swap samples had tested positive for the H1N1 virus, Dr Das said.

Taking into consideration the seriousness of the matter, state Health Minister A L Hek told PTI, "An alert has been sounded across the state to monitor the situation and hospitals have been directed to take preventive measures and ensure that proper treatment is made available to patients."

The Airport Authority of India officials in Guwahati International Airport and Shillong airport have also been asked to take precautionary measures.

Another woman had tested positive for swine flu in the Meghalaya state capital and was admitted to a hospital on October 24.

The 27-year-old woman and her mother, hailing from Mumbai, had come to Shillong to attend a church convention.

Her condition has improved and she is now out of the ICU, Dr Das said.

Swine flu is an infectious flu-like respiratory disease which infects the windpipe of a person resulting in nasal secretions, cough, decreased appetite and restlessness.