H1N1 claims one more life in Surat

One person has died due to swine flu in Surat on Tuesday taking the toll in the city to six. Ratialal Devsi, 27, a resident of Ambika nagar in Katargam died at New civil hospital on Tuesday morning with swine flu. Devsi, a labourer by profession, was admitted to the hospital on November 11 with symptoms of the flu. He had cough and breathing problems after which his reports were sent to BJ medical college in Ahmedabad which tested positive.

Hospital sources said that Devsi's family has been quarantined and are being treated by the special doctors. With Devsi's death, the state-wide toll has touched 19 now. In another case, a 13-year-old girl with suspected swine flu died in the city on Tuesday. The victim's blood reports have not arrived from Ahmedabad, which makes it unclear whether the girl was infected with the deadly virus.

Priyanka Bahrgav, a resident of Pandesara died while taking treatment at isolation ward of New civil hospital. Priyanaka was having symptoms similar to swine flu and she was admitted at the hospital on Monday night. Her blood reports were sent to BJ Medical College for testing, but reports were not received till late on Tuesday evening.

“We are doing our best. Whenever any patient dies of swine flu, we provide precautionary treatment to all members of the family. Recently we provided treatment to 80 family members of a patient, who died due to swine flu. People have to take more precaution as it is a contagious disease," said Hemant Desai, in-charge deputy commissioner of SMC.