Pune : Two more die of swine flu, four patients on ventilator

Pune: Two more persons, including a 69-year-old woman from Aundh, succumbed to swine flu-induced complications last week, taking the H1N1-related death count in the city, as reported by private hospitals, to 38 this year so far.

Currently, four patients diagnosed with the contagion are on ventilator support at different hospitals in the city. A total of 126 patients have tested positive for the virus in the city this year so far.

“The woman succumbed to H1N1-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) at Ruby Hall Clinic on April 24. A 65-year-old man from Ahmednagar, died following the virus-related respiratory complications on April 23,” a doctor from Ruby Hall Clinic said.

Sanjeev Wavare, assistant medical officer of health, PMC, said, “We have already strengthened our patient surveillance. People should also adopt preventive measures to ward off the disease.”

When contacted, a state health official said, “We have directed civic medical officers in Pune and other cities to keep their hospitals ready. They have been told to ensure the intensive care units in their jurisdictions are functional and ready with emergency life-support systems.”

He said the health officials have also been directed to conduct training of their staff in operating ventilators and convene meetings of all healthcare professionals, including private medical practitioners, to keep them abreast with the current swine flu situation in the state.