Punjab - 19 fatalities this season, total 59

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 9

Schoolteacher among two H1N1 victims
TNN 17 December 2009, 05:20am IST
CHANDIGARH: Two persons, including a government school vice-principal, died of H1N1 in Punjab on Wednesday. While one belonged to Bathinda, the other was from Nabha.

The 57-year-old schoolteacher from Bathinda succumbed in CMC, Ludhiana, where she had been referred to two days back. Her death has prompted fears of the contagion spreading in the district, which had till now not reported even a single swine flu case. The day also saw another Bathinda resident testing positive and being put on ventilator at CMC, Ludhiana.

A 24-year-old Nabha youth died in PGI, where he was undergoing treatment for respiratory tract infection, officials said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Schoolteacher-among-two-H1N1-victims/articleshow/5346009.cms

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 11

Swine flu death: DMCH gets a slap on the wrist for negligencePost CommentLarger | Smaller Anupam Bhagria
Tags : swineflu, DMCH
Posted: Thursday , Dec 17, 2009 at 0404 hrs

Mahinder Pal Singh, a resident of HIG flats of Raj Guru Nagar, has demanded from the Senior Superintendent of Police Dr S S Gill registration of a case of criminal negligence against Dr Ravinder Sharma of DMC&H for irresponsible behaviour while treating his sick son, Ajaypal Singh, and issue a show cause notice to the DMCH authorities for deficiency of medical services.

MP Singh, who is the chief manager in Punjab and Sind Bank, alleged, ?My only son, Ajay Pal Singh died because of the panic created in the name of swine flu and gross negligence and deficiency of medical services provided by DMCH and Hero Heart Institute. My son, Ajay pal Singh (32) was admitted in Shri Raghunath hospital due to fever and chest congestion, on October 4. After giving initial treatment, Raghunath hospital doctors referred the patient to DMCH stating that the patient was suspected of suffering from swine flue and other problems. He was admitted to DMCH around October 4. After two hours, the duty doctor shifted my son to emergency of Hero Heart Institute. On October 5 at about 4:30 pm, all of a sudden, the doctor on duty informed us that the patient was suspected to have swine flu and they cannot treat him in their hospital and forced us to shift him to PGI, Chandigarh. They did not listen to the request of Dr US Sooch, district health officer, who requested the hospital authorities to provide isolation for the patient and said that he would make arrangement for swine flu test and provide the necessary medicines also. The DMC doctor on duty refused to provide isolation to my son. Ultimately, we left for Chandigarh along with a doctor and attendants and on way to Chandigarh, we noted that my son was not put on ventilator and was being provided oxygen manually through a hand operated pump as the ventilator was not functional. At PGI, the doctors there examined my son and arranged swine flu test. But they informed me that I have brought him very late to PGI as he is in very critical condition. Unfortunately, my son died at about 1:30 am.?

MP Singh said, ?The media highlighted all this and the Punjab Human Rights Commission took suo moto notice of it and marked an enquiry to the state government. Following which a panel of three doctors, Dr Gurmeet Sigh, Dr GP Mangala and Tarminder Singh, conducted an enquiry and submitted a report to the state government as well as to the civil surgeon, Ludhiana.?



Showing the enquiry report, MP Singh said, ?In this report, Dr Raminder Sharma of DMCH has been reported as irresponsible as he was not aware that a patient suffering from swine flu should be kept in isolation. Dr Raminder has accepted it in cross examination. And it has been said that the patient should not have been shifted to PGI in a critical condition and DMC&H and HDHI are the part of same organisation, so the admission fee of the patient should not have been charged again.?



When contacted, Dr Sandeep Puri, Medical Superintendent DMCH , he said, ?I can comment only after going through the enquiry report.?

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Swine-flu-death--DMCH-gets-a-slap-on-the-wrist-for-negligence/555244

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 11

Another swine flu death in Chandigarh, 13 new cases
December 17th, 2009 - 3:20 pm ICT by IANS -
Chandigarh, Dec 17 (IANS) A 23-year-old became the latest swine flu victim in Chandigarh that has reported 13 new H1N1 cases, health officials said Thursday.
?The deceased is a 23-year-old resident of Patiala in Punjab. We have informed the concerned authorities there and told them to quarantine the family members of the deceased and to medically examine them,? a Chandigarh health official said here.

In addition, 13 new positive cases of swine flu were reported in city hospitals Thursday.

?With the dip in the mercury, new swine flu cases have seen a sudden surge in this union territory. We had collected throat and nasal swab samples of these 13 patients on Wednesday and their reports are positive,? said the official.

These positive cases include five patients from various towns in Punjab and four each from Chandigarh and Haryana.



Read more: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/...#ixzz0ZwCXlX0j

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 12

Punjab earmarks 5 centres for swine flu treatment
Punjab Newsline Network
Thursday, 17 December 2009
CHANDIGARH: With number of swine flu cases increasing in the Punjab with the advent of the winter, Punjab government earmarked five centres for the treatment of the disease besides deciding to launch an awareness campaign in government schools.

State Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla on Wednesday held a high-level meeting to review preparations to tackle the disease during which it was decided to earmark five centres in Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Bathinda for the treatment of patients rather than referring them to private hospitals.

The minister said these centres would be in addition to medical colleges in the state, which already had facilities to treat such cases.

She said while 75 ventilators at disposal of the department would be able to cover all suspected cases coming in as of now, there was a shortage of anaesthetists, who would be taken from medical colleges if need be. She said adequate trained para-medical staff would be posted at all centres.

The minister said isolation wards had been created at all hospitals in the state besides announcing a change in policy in the distribution of Tami Flu medicine. She said the medicine would now be first given only to the primary family unit and the dose would also vary for children and adults.

Meanwhile, today?s review meeting revealed that the swine flu fatality figure in the state has risen to 14. However, four of these deaths could not be definitely attributed to swine flu. In all, 114 suspect cases have been detected in the state till now with many of these persons still undergoing treatment.

The Health Department has decided to conduct an aggressive awareness campaign on swine flu at government schools besides taking the help of alternative medicine systems like ayurveda.

The department is also taking the help of the Ayurved Department to provide traditional medicines to children besides checking their HB count.

http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/21867/38/

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 14

Suspected H1N1 victim?s kin lock up medics
Neel Kamal, TNN 18 December 2009, 06:31am IST

LONGOWAL: The fear of H1N1 contagion spreading its tentacles in the region prompted high tension drama at the residence of Ashwani Kumar, a 35-year-old barber from Longowal who died of suspected swine flu on way to PGI, Chandigarh, on Thurday. His death agitated the members of his family so much that they locked up a team of medics which had come to their residence for their medical examination.

Not stopping at that, they led their neighbours and relatives in laying siege to a primary health centre in protest against the ?cold and apathetic response? of the senior medical officer to their queries regarding the cremation.

The agitating assemblage relented only after the intervention of Sangrur SDM Upkar Singh and police, even as officiating chief medical officer HS Bali led a team of doctors in holding peace parleys and examining the family members for flu symptoms.

The incident happened on Thursday, beginning with Kumar?s death in the wee hours.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Suspected-H1N1-victims-kin-lock-up-medics/articleshow/5350127.cms

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 14

Swine flu claims three lives

STAFF WRITER 19:42 HRS IST
Chandigarh, Dec 18 (PTI) The H1N1 virus claimed lives of three persons, including two from Punjab, in the city today taking the death toll due to swine flu in the region to 32.

Harpal Singh from Ludhiana, Gurnam Singh from Bathinda and Vickey from Kaithal died in PGIMER here due to swine flu, city's swine flu nodal officer Dr G C Bansal said here.

He said that three positive cases, one each from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh were hospitalised today taking the number of such cases to 213.

Among the positive cases admitted to hospitals was a doctor of local government hospital, a resident of Mohali.

He said that with fall in minimum temperature, the trend of positive Swine flu cases has "increased", but the situation is not alarming.

http://ptinews.com/news/430637_Swine-flu-claims-three-lives

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 16

http://sify.com/news/India-s-swine-flu-toll-touches-769-over-23-000-affected-news-National-jmsvEcfdigg.html

Four deaths were reported from Punjab, taking the total number of people who have died due to the contagious virus in the state to 18.

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 18

The missing two from above;
-snip-
Another victim is a 58-year-old person from Sector 12, Panchkula.

-snip-

Mohali: A 26-year-old resident of Phase VII died due to swine flu here today, taking the death toll to four.

According to reports, the patient was admitted to Fortis Hospital for the treatment of some other disease. But on suspicion, a sample was collected and the throat swab was sent to the PGI for tests, which were confirmed positive.

Earlier, two women and one two-month-old child had died due to swine flu here.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091219/cth1.htm#2

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 18

With another death, swine flu toll 10
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 18
With one more resident succumbing to swine flu at Deepak Hospital in Ludhiana, the death toll has reached 10. Five of the 10 deceased were from Ludhiana while the others were from other districts of Punjab and were undergoing treatment here.

Sarabjit of Haibowal, who died last evening at Deepak Hospital, was admitted on December 14. She was put on therapeutic treatment by the district health authorities.

Civil Surgeon Maninderjit Singh said 78 swab samples had been sent from the city, out of which 32 tested positive for influenza H1N1. ?As many as 15 cases were from Ludhiana district,? he stated, adding that private hospitals had increased their bed strength and ventilators in order to accommodate maximum patients.

The health department today distributed 10,000 pamphlets and pasted posters pertaining to swine flu at crowded places, including railway station, bus stand and gurdwaras.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091219/ldh1.htm#1

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 19

One swine flu death reported, toll rises to 11
STAFF WRITER 20:32 HRS IST
Jalandhar, Dec 20 (PTI) With death of a suspected flu patient in the Civil Hospital today, the toll due to H1N1 virus rose to 11 in the district.

Bipil Ahuja, a suspected swine flu patient was admitted to Civil Hospital and died even before getting the report of his swab test from PGI Chandigarh, Dr Roop Lal, District Health Officer of Civil Hospital told PTI here.

Meanwhile, Dr S P S Sohal, Director Health, Punjab Government today visited the civil hospital and inspected the arrangements made to treat the flu patients.

Talking to reporters, he said that apart from allowing Fortis Hospital and Dr Lal Laboratory for conducting test for H1N1 virus, a new laboratory in Amritsar Medical College would be soon established to test the swab for H1N1 virus.

http://ptinews.com/news/433006_One-swine-flu-death-reported--toll-rises-to-11

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 20

One death reported
Gurdeep Mann
Tribune News Service

Khanna, December 21
A 23-year-old boy residing in Samrala died today of swine flu in CMCH, Ludhiana.

The deceased has been identified as Amandeep Singh, who was working in a private telecom firm in the GTB market, Khanna, for the past some time.

As per relatives of the deceased, a close family member had come to meet him from England who might have been infected with H1N1 virus. He was suffering from fever for the past around one week and was rushed to a local hospital from where he was further referred to CMCH.

Earlier three persons have reportedly died of swine flu in Khanna.

Efforts are being made to make people aware of the virus by conducting meetings at various urban and rural areas of Khanna, besides sensitising private practitioners and others, said health department officials.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091222/ldh1.htm#2

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 22

Swine flu claims one more life.
STAFF WRITER 21:43 HRS IST
Amritsar, Dec 22 (PTI) One more death due to swine flu was reported here taking the tool due to the viral disease to two in the district, official sources said today.

The deceased was identified as Dharmvir Singh (37), resident of Tarn Taran who died on December 16 was tested positive for swine flu.

Dr H S Ghai incharge of the swine flue ward of civil hospital said that reports of Dharmvir were received here today.

Ghai said that Dharmvir was presently employed with the Indian army on non commissioned rank, posted at Pune and was here on leave.

Earlier on December 18, Surjit Kaur (65) resident of Chabba village had died after being tested positive for H1N1 virus.

http://ptinews.com/news/436404_Swine-flu-claims-one-more-life-

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 23

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091223/ldh1.htm#10

Una is in Himachal Pradesh, but the patient died in Ludhiana, Punjab.

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 24

One swine flu patient dies, toll rises to 12

STAFF WRITER 19:27 HRS IST
Jalandhar, Dec 23 (PTI) With death of a swine flu patient today, the toll due to H1N1 virus today rose to 12 in the district.

Tarlochan Singh, a resident of Goindwal Sahib, who was admitted to Civil Hospital on December 18 and tested positive for H1N1 virus, today died, Dr Roop Lal, District Health Officer of Civil Hospital told PTI adding at present there were 11 including a H1N1 patient admitted to the hospital.

While two of the H1N1 positive patients have already been discharged after their treatment, swabs of other suspected patients were sent for tests to PGI, Chandigarh and reports were still awaited, DHO added.

Meanwhile, medical teams were kept on high alert to control the spread of the virus and extra care was being taken of those patients, who were having symptoms of H1N1 virus, he added.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/437906_One-swine-flu-patient-dies--toll-rises-to-12

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Punjab - Fatalities 25

Swine flu snuffs out another life
Sushil Goyal
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 23
A swine flu positive patient from Gidderbaha (Muktsar) Sharanjit Kaur (30), who was admitted for the past some days in the Adesh Medical College, Bathinda, today died after delivering a dead baby this afternoon. She was pregnant for seven months.

This is the second death in Muktsar district with swine flu. Earlier, on December 21 Jaswinder Kaur (29) from Doda village (Gidderbaha), 12 km from Muktsar, had died with swine flu. Jaswinder had died 10 days after delivering a baby while Sharanjit died after delivering a dead baby on the same day.

Talking to The Tribune the district health officer (DHO) Dr Dharampal Singh Sekhon said this evening that after the delivery of seven-month baby, the condition of Sharanjit Kaur started deteriorating due to certain complications and she died.

One more case from Bathinda has been tested positive for swine flu. He is Nitin Singla (24), a resident of Rampuraphul who runs a cloth shop at Bathinda. His test's report was received by the district health authorities here last night from the PGI, Chandigarh, where Nitin is admitted and under treatment.

Dr Sekhon said they had also received the test report a local MBBS doctor, whose samples had been sent for swine flu test to the PGI the previous day. As per the report, the doctor tested negative for swine flu. He was admitted in an isolation ward of the local civil hospital the previous day, but as he had been tested negative, he had been discharged from the hospital today. However, he had been advised to take preventive measures, the DHO added.

Dr Sekhon further said the result of the sample of another suspected swine flu patient Lakhbir Singh was still awaited though his sample had also been sent with doctor's sample the previous day.

To create awareness about swine flu among the masses a drama team today staged a play at two places in the city.

The team staged a show in the local civil hospital while the other show was performed at Vardhman colony. Through the play, the artists educated and informed the masses about the symptoms of swine flu and the preventive measures to check the swine flu menace.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091224/bathinda.htm#6