After five people in Karnataka succumbed to swine flu, the Karnataka Health Department says one more person has lost her life to the virus.
On Friday, 52-year-old Uma Devi Lokesh, who was being treated at the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Bengaluru, passed away after suffering from fever, cough and cold. Uma, who hailed from Hassan district’s Doddenahalli in Arsikere Taluk, complained of the symptoms a week ago. Her family members rushed her to Shivakumar Hospital in Arsikere for treatment.
“Two days later, the hospital advised the family members to take the woman to a hospital in Bengaluru. She was taken to Victoria Hospital on October 8 and the doctors there referred her to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital. She was being treated there when she died,” said Dr Geeta from the Kolagunda Medical Hospital, the PHC in Uma’s village.
Speaking to TNM, Joint Director of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme confirmed that Uma had died due to Swine Flu.
“She succumbed on Friday. Yes, it is a confirmed case of H1N1. We are taking all measures to ensure that the spread of infection can be controlled,” he added.
On Friday, another suspected swine flu-related death emerged in Mangaluru after a 38-year-old woman died. “Manjula Devaraj and her family had gone to Sakleshpur for a trip on Monday. When she returned home the same day, she began coughing a lot. She also contracted a cold. Her family members took her to the Kolagunda PHC. When she did not recover, she was taken to a private hospital in Arsikere, where she was treated for two days. When her condition deteriorated, she was rushed to AJ Hospital in Mangaluru. She died on Friday,” Dr Geeta added.
Five others have succumbed to Swine Flue since August this year including two people from Bengaluru and one each from Hassan, Ramanagaram and Tumakuru areas.
The District Health Officer for Hassan, Dr Satish, told TNM that 89 positive cases of H1N1 have been reported in Hassan district alone.
On Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwara held a meeting with the officials of the Health Department and issued guidelines that all Primary Health Centres (PHC), taluk and district hospitals must follow, especially since the number of positive cases has increased to 496.
“Since 2010, several cases of H1N1 viral disease have been reported and many people have died in the country. In 2010, in Karnataka, more than 126 cases were reported to have been infected by the virus and several people died. This year, until Oct 10, more cases have been confirmed positive. We thought it is necessary for us to take precautionary measures throughout the state. In fact, in Bengaluru city alone, there have been two deaths. They are taking precautionary measures so that people don't die of H1N1,” said the Deputy Chief Minister.
Speaking to the media, Manjunath Prasad, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner said that as on October 14, 177 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Bengaluru alone.
“Out of these cases, 37 cases are of people who are not residents of the city. These are regularly monitored and appropriate action is being taken. Compared to previous years, this year, the number of cases is lesser. I request the people to not panic. There is no need to panic,” he said.