Two H1N1 deaths in Mazgaon and Agripada

MUMBAI: Two women, including a senior citizen, succumbed to influenza H1N1 in March, making them this year’s first casualties of the viral infection in the city. The BMC’s public health department said on Tuesday the deaths, both from E Ward, were recently confirmed by an expert committee.

The 65-year-old victim, a resident of Mazgaon, had a known history of diabetes. The BMC’s executive health officer Dr Padmaja Keskar said she was treated at a public hospital for eight days but succumbed to complications. “Her ailment started with basic symptoms of fever and cold but as her condition deteriorated she needed ICU care. She was also on a ventilator,” said Dr Keskar. The second victim was a 30-year-old from Agripada, who too succumbed after 48 hours of hospitalization. She didn’t have underlying health problems.

After merely 25 reported cases in 2018, H1N1 saw a surge with 134 cases in the first four months of 2019 alone. While across the state H1N1 cases had started pouring in since January, Mumbai began to detect them only in February. Around 40 cases were reported in February which doubled to 81 in March. “In April, though, we have seen only 14 cases so far. We can’t say the virus is not around but cases have dipped slightly,” said Dr Keskar. The BMC said H1N1 vaccine is available for pregnant women at civic-run maternity homes. Across the state, 120 people have fallen victim to the virus so far and nearly 1,200 affected.

“We haven’t seen any deaths in April but are vigilant,” said state epidemiologist Dr Pradeep Awate. He added at least 40% of the deceased had one of the underlying conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. “We advise vaccination for pregnant women and the high-risk population,” said Awate, adding the state has received around 1.30 lakh doses of H1N1 vaccine that will be made available to the high-risk population. “The idea is to vaccinate as much as of the vulnerable population before there is a surge in transmission once again during monsoon,” he said.