BANGALORE: The H1N1 virus claimed its first life in Bangalore when 26-year-old school teacher Roopa Anand died at St Philomena’s Hospital on August 12. She was brought to St Philomena’s Hospital on August 7 afternoon and after being tested positive for bacterial pneumonia, was admitted to the hospital. “After we tested her positive for pneumonia, we prescribed her antibiotics for 48 hours. For the past five days, she had complaints of cough and fever,’’ said Dr Shankar Prasad, medical superintendent, St Philomena’s Hospital.
“She developed desaturation respiratory problem. With H1N1 clinically suspected, she was then isolated and ventilated and her swab samples were sent to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases on August 10. Even before we received her test results, we started Tamiflu treatment,’’ he added.
“What surprised doctors is the fact that she had no history of contact or travel to affected countries. We have informed the health authorities who will identify the source of contraction,’’ Dr Prasad said.
A resident of BTM Layout, Roopa had been working as an LKG teacher at Sudarshan Vidya Mandir, Jayanagar, for the past two and half years. Her husband is working with MICO. The couple have two children aged six and four.
“We will del iver Tamiflu drugs to Roopa’s close contacts. If the prophylactic drug was given in the first 48 hours, her life could have probably been saved,’’ Dr Prasad said.
Roopa’s family accused the hospital of negligence. Her brother said that had the doctors been more attentive, she could have been saved.
Jennifer, a relative, said, “There were no doctors at the ICU at the time of admission. They took Rs 10,000 just for testing the blood sample and issued no acknowledgement or receipt for the payment.’’ Terming the allegations baseless, Dr Prasad told Express, “Despite providing all care, we are accused of negligence and defamed by the family. When Roopa was put on ventilator, three nurses and a doctor in the ICU continued to be in close contact with her. These doctors and nurses looked after the patient, risking their own lives as they used to sit next to her.’’