A one-year-old boy died of Swine Flu at a civic hospital here last week, taking the death toll in the viral infection to three in the city this month, health officials said today.
The infant, a resident of Dharavi, died due to swine flu on Sunday at Sion hospital, they said.
"The child was suffering from fever since June 12. When he was brought to Sion Hospital on June 17, he had started developing breathlessness. As the doctors suspected him to be suffering of Swine Flu, his throat swab sample was taken immediately," BMC's Executive Health Officer GT Ambe said.
The child tested positive for swine flu on June 19 and was put on Tamilfu, Ambe said, adding, "His family members were also asked to take Tamiflu for five days."
The city has recorded two deaths of Swine Flu in the last 20 days.
The victims were identified as Ashiya Sheikh (25), a resident of Bhandup, who delivered twins at Sion Hospital, and died of Swine Flu on June 7 and Rekha Shah (52), a president of Bhayandar, who died on June 16 at PD Hinduja hospital, they said.
According to health officials, 54 people have already tested positive for the disease in the city this month.
Two more pregnant women are undergoing treatment for swine flu at KEM Hospital, Parel. One is seven months pregnant and
the other one is expected to deliver any time now.
"Swine flu virus is in the air. And we have asked the doctors not to rule out the possibility of H1N1 in case a patient complains of fever or running nose," Ambe said.
The civic body has urged high-risk patients, like pregnant women, infants and people with heart ailments, to be extra cautious.
"This category of people must consult a doctor the moment they notice any flu-like symptom. These people should avoid crowded places, or use masks whenever they go out," Ambe said.
