Swine flu claims third victim from Mumbai

Mumbai: Swine flu has claimed the year’s third victim from Mumbai — a pregnant woman (30) from Bhandup, who succumbed to the disease at civic-run Sion hospital.

According to BMC, the victim, Shabana Sheikh, 30, was a resident of Allahabad and had come to stay in Bhandup a month ago. Seven months into her pregnancy, Sheikh was a known case of bronchial asthma and had a history of high-grade fever accompanied by chills, cough, chest pain and shortness of breath. She had been vomiting since five days. On May 13, she was taken to privately-run Savitribai Phule Maternity Home, Bhandup, from where she was referred to Sion hospital.

Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer of BMC, said, “Sheikh was admitted on May 13 and was on Tami flu. The same day itself, we took her swab for testing, which was unfortunately positive and she succumbed to infection on May 16.”

Asked what action was being taken, Dr Keskar said, “We have screened more than 2,026 people and 525 families in the locality where the woman stayed. We took samples of 11 people who were in close contact with Sheikh; three showed symptoms of influenza.”

An official said that as many as 203 people out of 1,040 positive cases in Maharashtra had so far lost their lives due to swine flu (H1N1 infection) this year. The first swine flu death — that of an infant — was reported on April 25 while the second on May 12. In 2016, 25 swine-flu deaths were recorded.

Experts said that fluctuation in temperatures could be the reason for the spurt in cases of swine flu. Dr Pradeep Awate, head, state epidemiology department, said, “We have already started screening and increased surveillance.”

When any kind of viral infection is reported, we take it seriously. We have started vaccinating patients especially high-risk patients such as pregnant women, diabetics and people with high blood pressure.”