With four more deaths on Sunday, the toll of swine flu deaths in the state has touched 38. While two persons died in Nagpur, Pune and Aurangabad recorded one death each.
With four more deaths on Sunday, the toll of swine flu deaths in the state has touched 38. While two persons died in Nagpur, Pune and Aurangabad recorded one death each.
Of the 38 deaths, five have succumbed to the virus in Mumbai since January. Maharashtra has recorded 138 cases of swine flu in 2015, since January. The state has the dubious distinction of recording a higher mortality rate than the national average. Of the 2,038 cases in India, 10%, or 215 persons, have died this year. One in 2-4 persons infected with swine flu dies in Maharashtra. Dr Om Shrivastava, infectious diseases consultant at private-run Jaslok Hospital, said: "The mortality rate of swine flu is 20-25%. What is more alarming is that healthy young people are dying this year. Also, patients are succumbing within 36-48 hours of hospitalisation."
Union health ministry protocol maintains that a patient's life can be salvaged if Oseltamivir, the only drug found to be effective against swine flu, is administered within 72 hours. Swine flu mimics common flu-like symptoms – cough, cold, headache, body ache, fever and breathlessness. Maharashtra is among the top four states to have been affected by the virus. While Rajasthan and Gujarat have recorded over 70 deaths, Telangana and Maharashtra follow closely on their heels, with over 38 deaths recorded in each state.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) health department is conducting a daily surveillance of suspected and confirmed cases. "We are monitoring influenza-like illness (ILI) and sub-acute respiratory illnesses (SARI) to screen them for swine flu. BMC is co-ordinating with private hospitals and two government labs at Haffkine Institute and Kasturba Hospital as well as SRL Religare Lab for immediate reporting of positive H1N1 cases," said Dr Mangala Gomare, epidemiologist, BMC.
Thirty-year-old Nigel, son of the deceased 61-year-old Palghar resident Mitelda Almeda, is admitted at Kasturba Hospital, Chinchpokali, for treatment. There is an influx of swine flu patients from Badlapur, Vashi, Palghar, Dombivali. However, state in-charge for H1N1 virus, Dr Pradip Awate, said: "Arrangements for isolating patients have been made right till block levels in districts."
While throat swab testing for H1N1 costs anywhere between Rs 6,000 -10,000 in private labs, the vaccine costs between Rs 500-1,000. No vaccines are available at the moment though. Also, while swine flu vaccine was available in 2010, with a decline in incidence of cases, no vaccine was rolled out after a year. Moreover, Maharashtra has procured its own stock of Oselatamivir this year. "During the pandemic period, a few years ago, the central government had made available the drug. Eventually, the Union health ministry asked states to arrange for stocks individually," he said.
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