PUDUCHERRY:A 32-year-old woman from Manamedu in Bahour died of H1N1 virus, commonly called Swine flu, on February 8. This is the first death out of the 12 swine flu cases reported in Puducherry so far in the current year.
The victim Gomathi was brought to the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute at Kirumampakkam on February 7 after being treated in Cuddalore for about a week, Dr Kumaravelu, Deputy Director, Public Health, Department of Health and Family Welfare told Express. She was having severe lung congestion and admitted in intensive care unit. Suspecting H1N1, she was given appropriate treatment but it went in vain as she was brought to the hospital in a very advanced stage of illness, Dr Kumaravelu said.
Further, Kumaravelu maintained that there has been no other death due to swine flu in Puducherry. All the 12 cases of confirmed swine flu are recovering after treatment. The families of those affected by swine flu have also been administered medication ensure they are not affected, he added.
The Puducherry government has stocked sufficient amount of Tamilflu, said Dr Kumaravelu. Besides, the H1N1 testing facilities and isolation wards at JIPMER, another 10-bedd isolation ward for H1N1 cases has been set up at the Chest Hospital, said Dr Kumaravelu.