TIRUCHY: Saminathan (45), a lorry driver hailing from Sempattu in Tiruchy, who was diagnosed H1N1 influenza failed to respond to treatment and succumbed to death in a private hospital in the City on Wednesday.
According to health officials, Saminathan had travelled to Tiruppathi with his family and returned four days ago suffering from high fever, vomiting and respiratory problems. As he did not improve, he was taken to a private hospital in the city on Wednesday morning. He was confirmed with H1N1 after the blood test at a govt. authorised private lab. He did not respond to the treatment and died on Wednesday night.
Sources added that the hospital management failed to intimate the government health officials on confirming H1N1.
Speaking to Express, City Health Officer, Dr Geetharani said, “The patient had severe back pain and high fever, prompting him to visit a doctor. However, after diagnosis, he did not respond to the treatment and succumbed to death.” Tamiflu tablets have been given to his family members and preventive measures have been taken.
The people of his locality were against taking Saminathan’s dead body to his house in Sempattu, for the fear of spread of the disease. So his relatives took him to the grave yard directly for cremation.
Meanwhile, a 50-year-old farmer, Jagadeesan of Thoppapatti near Rasipuram, died on Thursday at a private hospital in Coimbatore, allegedly of swine flu.
Jagadeesan had been suffering from cold and fever since November 11.
Initially, he was treated at a private clinic in Rasipuram, and then at a hospital in Salem.
On November 15, he was shifted to the Coimbatore hospital.
“The doctors at the hospital said Jagadeesan was suffering from swine flu. They treated him, but could not save his life,” said Senthil, a relative of the deceased.
Jagadeesan had recently travelled to Vellore by train and could have contracted the infection then, he added.
Public Health Department officials have been keeping watch on Thoppapatti village to prevent anybody else there being infected.