H1N1 Strikes its 1st Fatal Blow in City, Takes Away Rail Staffer

H1N1 Strikes its 1st Fatal Blow in City, Takes Away Rail Staffer

CHENNAI: A 53-year-old man died of swine flu at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on Monday night, marking the first death in the city due to H1N1 this year.

Speaking to Express, Dr S Raghunandan, deputy superintendent of the hospital said the deceased, P Srinivasan, was referred to the GH from a leading private hospital in the city.

“The patient was admitted to the private hospital on January 15. When his condition worsened, he was shifted to RGGGH on Saturday evening. Here, we kept him in isolation and started the treatment. However, by then, he had severe bilateral lung infection (Pneumonia), and was put on ventilator support. On Monday evening, at around 5.15 pm, he died not responding to the treatment,” he said.

According to hospital sources, all members in the family and those who contacted him were given TamiFlu. An employee with the Southern Railways, Srinivasan had gone to Secunderabad on official work. On return, he complained of fever, and has since been undergoing treatment at private hospitals.

A senior health department official told Express that Srinivasan had delayed the treatment. After returning from Secunderabad with the fever, he took about five days before seeking medical treatment from the private hospital, before being finally referred to the government hospital at an advanced stage, said the official.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan told Express that there was enough Tamiflu medicine stock in the State. There is no need to panic, he said, pointing out that the World Health Organisation had categorised the flu as seasonal. Those displaying symptoms of fever should approach the hospital at initial stage itself, he added.

The deceased is survived by his wife and two sons.

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