The National Capital Region recorded its first swine flu fatality on Friday with a 51-year-old woman from Ghaziabad succumbing to the virus at a private hospital here.
Officials at the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital, where the patient was admitted said the woman had been moved from Columbia Asia Hospital in Ghaziabad a few days ago.
She was in a critical condition and had to be kept on ventilator support.
Meanwhile, all government hospitals have been put on alert by the Delhi Government’s health department. Hospitals have been asked to take appropriate measures to treat swine flu cases.
According to the Directorate of Health Services, six cases of swine flu have been reported in the national capital and its neighbouring region this month.
“This is the first death due to swine flu this year. A total 32 positive cases of swine flu have been reported in Delhi and NCR since January 1 till date,” said Dr. Dalveer Singh, State Epidemiologist, holding the additional charge of Public Health.
The deceased, identified as Sheel Goel, resident of East Model Town in Ghaziabad was admitted to the ICU of Ganga Ram Hospital in a serious condition on December 21.
All India figures have revealed that swine flu has claimed 204 lives from January till November this year. As many as 831 confirmed cases of the outbreak have been reported during the corresponding period.
The maximum number of cases (155) were reported in Gujarat, where 55 people succumbed to the disease followed by Maharashtra with 42 deaths and 112 cases. Karnataka ad Punjab reported 294 cases and 33 deaths and 56 cases and 30 deaths respectively.
According to the data provided by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry there has been an outbreak of the Influenza A H1N1 that causes swine flu since 200910, with sporadic outbreaks being reported from various states including Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharasthra and Kerala.
With PTI inputs
