Swine flu claims its 5th victim in March in Pune

A 60-year-old man who was admitted to Poona Hospital on March 17 and tested positive for swine flu, succumbed to the infection at 11 am on Monday. This is the fifth death claimed by the virus in the city this month.

“The patient had a history of diabetes and hypertension. The onset of symptoms was from March 15 and he was brought to Poona Hospital with H1N1 symptoms like cough, fever and breathlessness,” said Dr Shyam Satpute, H1N1 nodal officer, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

Eight more positive cases were recorded in the PMC area taking the total number of positive cases within PMC limits to 41 people since March 1.

A total of 1,320 patients were examined for H1N1 on Monday, of which 71 are suspected to be infected.

Six patients are on ventilator, while nine have been admitted to isolation wards at various hospitals.

A total of 72 people from the district have tested positive for H1N1 since March 1.

Meanwhile, officials at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) said that while reappearance of H1N1 cases is unusual and unexpected, the biology of the virus suggests it is a sporadic breakout and not as big in proportion as the last outbreak.

“As of now, it’s not a matter of concern as so far there is no mutation in the H1N1 virus. The diurnal variations in temperature may have got the virus into activity. However, the virus is not as virulent as the last outbreak and neither will this last too long. We don’t foresee a big spurt in cases either,” said Dr AC Mishra, director of NIV.

He said that while he doesn’t advise against routine vaccination, there was no need to panic and rush for H1N1 vaccination.

“Those who have taken the vaccination during the last pandemic also needn’t repeat it. However, it is true that since the virus has returned after a gap of 8 to 10 months, herd immunity levels are lower and precautions must be taken,” said Mishra.