Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest 3 women 6/24)

A little more detail on one of the most recent fatalities;

Swine flu kills 3 city women, late treatment is blamed
Sumitra Deb Roy, TNN, Jun 25, 2010, 03.25am IST

MUMBAI: The city registered three more deaths on Thursday, all women, due to swine flu. Worryingly, the deaths have brought to the fore the fact that city hospitals have learnt little from last year?s pandemic given that two of these patients got the anti-viral drug Tamiflu much later.

One of the deceased from Andheri, who was six months pregnant, got Tamiflu at least four to six days after visiting two hospitals. She died at Vile Parle?s Babasaheb Gawde Hospital on Tuesday after being treated at the ICU of the hospital since June 17. The hospital?s assistant medical director Dr Supriya Malshe said that the patient was put on Tamiflu as soon as she was suspected of swine flu?a full two days after her admission.

This is even as Malshe confirmed that she was admitted with classic symptoms of swine flu like breathlessness and fever. ?Once we saw her X-ray reports, only then we put her on Tamiflu as we have to be cautions with pregnant woman,?? she added. The patient was also suffering from narrowing of the mitral valve of the heart.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Mumbai/Swine-flu-kills-3-city-women-late-treatment-is-blamed/articleshow/6088393.cms

[tetano]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest 3 women 6/24)

Although the hysteria whipped by the highly infectious virus H1N1 has waned, the relentless rampage of the killer disease shows no signs of abating.

With three more lives snuffed out Thursday, the inherent fear is that the situation may once again be spiraling out of control.

All three were women hailing from Mumbai. With their demise, the total number of fatalities in the city and its peripheral areas rose to six since the onset of monsoon.

In addition, there has been a dramatic upturn in swine flu cases in city with 66 people testing positive for the virus in a short span of just a month.

Head of epidemiology cell of BMC Dr Daksha Shah said, ?Last year too, we had noticed that a higher number of women fatalities. This could be because they women tend to neglect their health and rush to the doctor only as a last resort.?

Details of the three victims
The first casualty, a six month pregnant woman from Andheri, was admitted into Vile Parle?s Babasaheb Gawde Hospital on June 17, with breathlessness and fever, all signs of the influenza.

However, the patient was administered Tamiflu two days after her admission to the health facility. The lady, who was also suffering from narrowing of the mitral valve of the heart, died on Tuesday after her condition deteriorated.

The hospital?s assistant medical director, Dr Supriya Malshe said, ?Once we saw her X-ray reports, only then we put her on Tamiflu as we have to be cautions with pregnant woman.?

She added that the patient was also suffering from narrowing of the mitral valve of the heart.

The second victim, a 58-year-old woman from Thane, was a high risk patient suffering from diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular problems. She had also undergone lobectomy in which a part of her lung was removed some 15 years ago.

Though her throat swap was taken immediately on admission to the Zynova Heart Hospital in Ghatkopar, the lady was put on Tamiflu more than 24 hours after hospitalization.

The hospital?s medical director, Dr A K Sinha said, ?The priority was to treat her heart problem. She was already quite critical when she was brought in.?

The third fatality was a 45-year-old woman from Kalyan who was undergoing treatment at INHS Ashwini in Colaba. She also had low immunity and belonged to the high risk group.

Delay in treatment
What is cause for concern is that despite bearing the brunt of the H1N1 monster last year, the medical institutions are still negligent in offering prompt treatment.

Two of the three lives lost recently was an outcome of delay in proper medical intervention.

Dr Daksha Shah admitted, ?There was a delay of about two-three days in administering Tamiflu. But, there was also a delay in taking these patients to the hospital.?

http://www.themedguru.com/20100625/newsfeature/3-women-succumb-swine-flu-mumbai-86136651.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest 9 mo girl 6/26)

9-month-old succumbs to swine flu


Hindustan Times
Mumbai, June 27, 2010
First Published: 01:26 IST(27/6/2010)
Last Updated: 01:28 IST(27/6/2010)



A nine-month-old girl succumbed to swine flu related complications at Kasturba Gandhi Hospital on Saturday.

This is the seventh swine flu death in Mumbai and its peripheral regions this month. The girl, a resident of Nalasopara, had been brought to the hospital on June 19. The doctors had administered her Tamiflu.

But the girl died before the Tamiflu course could be completed. Civic officials claimed that there was a delay in getting the girl admitted to the hospital. Last week, three women succumbed to swine-flu related complications at various private hospitals.

Earlier, the BMC had asked KEM, Nair and Sion hospitals to restart the swine flu screening and isolation facilities.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/9-month-old-succumbs-to-swine-flu/Article1-563766.aspx

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest 9 mo girl 6/26)

Swine flu fears go up as four more in Mumbai test positive
Jyoti Shelar / DNAMonday, June 28, 2010 0:59 IST Email


Mumbai: Four persons tested positive for swine flu on Sunday taking the number of positive cases in the city to 75 in this month.


The number of swine flu cases has gone up this month with the onset of monsoon as compared to the span from January to May when the total number of cases was 33.

On Saturday, a nine-month-old girl from Nallaspora succumbed to swine flu taking the death toll to seven. Earlier, a one-month-old boy had died of swine flu, and in both the cases, the civic authorities said there was delay in getting the patient to the hospital.

?We are spreading awareness so that any person with symptoms should immediately see a doctor rather than popping pills at home,? said Dr Girish Ambe, executive health officer, BMC.

Considering the spurt, the civic body has urged all the doctors to take the swine flu vaccine to curb the spread on the H1N1 virus in the city.

Parel?s KEM hospital is also holding a session this week to inoculate as many doctors as possible.?So far, 225 doctors in the city have been inoculated,? said Daksha Shah, head of BMC?s epidemiology cell.

The experts are also planning to vaccinate all pregnant women and the children who come under the high-risk group.

Studies have confirmed that the vaccine is not harmful to the pregnant mother and the foetus and it may be soon used to stop the spread of the virus.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_swine-flu-fears-go-up-as-four-more-in-mumbai-test-positive_1402148

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest 9 mo girl 6/26)

KEM dean on Tamiflu, doctors avoid immunisation
Jyoti Shelar / DNAWednesday, June 30, 2010 0:15 IST Email

Mumbai: Not a single doctor turned up for the H1N1 immunisation programme announced by KEM Hospital on Monday for doctors.

The hospital?s dean, Dr Sanjay Oak, who was going to be the first one to get inoculated, fell ill and started a course of Tamiflu as his symptoms were similar to swine flu. ?I was unwell and I am on Tamiflu since Saturday,? Oak told DNA on Tuesday.

With Oak?s absence, the fresh immunisation programme which was organised after a sensitisation workshop for doctors, failed to get any response.

The hospital?s Preventive and Social Medicine Department (PSM) officials, however, said that the doctors did not turn up due to a logistic issue.

?The timing of the programme was 1.30pm to 3.30pm. However, there is a general immunisation OPD which is conducted during the same time and most of the doctors get busy with the patients,? said an official, adding that doctors should turn up on Saturday when they work half day.

?Also there is a kind of fear about the vaccine amongst the doctors even though not many side effects have been recorded. We are still trying our level best to get them inoculated,? she said.

The doctors are skeptical of the vaccine as they are aware about constant mutation in the virus and they fear that the vaccine would do them more harm than any good.

Even as the virus has not changed so far and only its effects have changed, the doctors continue to be reluctant.

?We have been asked to take the vaccine or give in writing that the hospital will not be blamed if we are infected by the H1N1 virus,? said a resident doctor on condition of anonymity.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_kem-dean-on-tamiflu-doctors-avoid-immunisation_1403131

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest 9 mo girl 6/26)

5 test positive for swine flu

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
Email Author
Mumbai, June 30, 2010
First Published: 00:43 IST(30/6/2010)
Last Updated: 00:46 IST(30/6/2010)


Five more people tested positive for swine flu on Tuesday, taking the total number of H1N1 cases in June to 84.

While two of the patients have been quarantined at home, two others have been admitted to public hospitals and one has been admitted to a private hospital, said BMC officials.

The BMC will send an advisory to all city schools about tackling swine flu on Wednesday. ?The two-point advisory is meant for parents and schools. Parents have been advised to not send their children to school if they are unwell,? said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner (health).

?Teachers should be alert and watch out for any flu-like symptoms in students. Any child showing these symptoms should be asked to stay at home for about seven days and get medical help.

Teachers must also identify close contacts of such a child in school and have them checked for flu symptoms as well,? said Dr G. T. Ambe, executive health officer of the BMC. Schools shouldn?t have to remain closed, he added.

Experts have predicted a rise in swine flu cases in the coming months, as monsoon is favourable for virus transmission.

But Dr Pradeep Awate from the state influenza control cell said there is no cause for concern.

?Around 35 to 45 per cent of us have developed complete or partial immunity to the virus. And, we are better prepared this time. More than 100 hospitals in the state are treating swine flu and we have adequate stock of Tamiflu,? he said.

More than 200 cases of fever, 77 cases of malaria, two cases of leptospirosis and one case of dengue were recorded between Monday and Tuesday morning.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/5-test-positive-for-swine-flu/Article1-565123.aspx

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest 9 mo girl 6/26)

15 more test positive for swine flu
Sumitra Deb Roy, TNN, Jul 1, 2010, 05.56am IST


MUMBAI: On Wednesday, 15 more people tested positive for swine flu in the city taking the overall total to 100 cases in June alone. The BMC, however, said it is not a sudden spurt but "just better reporting from private laboratories".

According to experts, the number of positive cases should stop intimidating people as there is enough evidence to show that the virus is in the air. The National Institute of Virology in Pune had initiated a study in December last year to gauge the presence of virus in general healthy population who otherwise did not exhibit any swine fly symptoms. Most of the samples were from Pune with a few from Mumbai as well.

"We had found that about 30% of the healthy population studied had already developed anti-bodies to fight the H1N1 virus,? said Dr A C Mishra, director, NIV. "Of the studied samples, just about 10% had showed minor symptoms like cold or fever. The rest had recovered on their own with the help of their body?s defence mechanism,? he said.

Head of epidemiology cell of BMC Dr Daksha Shah said that since virus was in the air, their only focus was to watch its trends. Moreover, many private consultants were seen violating the swine flu guidelines, which clearly state that swabs of only those who are hospitalised should be taken.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/15-more-test-positive-for-swine-flu/articleshow/6112984.cms

[tetano]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest 9 mo girl 6/26)

Eight more people tested positive for A(H1N1) here on Thursday, taking the total number of cases in the metropolis to 108 since June 1.

?Eight persons have tested positive for swine flu today. Of these cases two are children and the remaining are adults.There is no pregnant woman,? said Dr Daksha Shah, in-charge of the civic health department?s epidemiology cell.

Seven people have died due to swine flu in Mumbai since June 1.

Meanwhile, overall 415 cases of monsoon-related ailments were reported today. This includes 243 cases of fever, 101 cases of gastro, 79 cases of malaria, two cases of dengue and one case of lepto.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article495363.ece

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest 9 mo girl 6/26)

Pregnant women in state will not be vaccinated against swine flu

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times

Mumbai, July 02, 2010
First Published: 00:51 IST(2/7/2010)
Last Updated: 00:55 IST(2/7/2010)



Pregnant women in Maharashtra will not be vaccinated against swine flu. The Centre has rejected the state’s proposal to vaccinate pregnant women, stating that the vaccine is meant exclusively for medical personnel.

“We had asked the Centre if we could vaccinate all pregnant women since they are most vulnerable to H1N1. We had also cited the example of Kerala where this is being done but the Centre has said the free vaccines supplied are meant only for medical personnel,” said a senior government official.

He added that if the state still decides to vaccinate pregnant women, it would have to purchase the vaccines on its own.

Eight more Mumbaiites, including one child, tested positive for swine flu on Thursday. While seven of these patients were quarantined at home, one was admitted to a civic hospital.

In Navi Mumbai, the first case of swine flu was detected this year. Suvarna Ubale (32) is critical and has been put on ventilator at MGM Hospital.

Over 100 people have been diagnosed with swine flu in Mumbai in June.

Civic officials said the sudden rise in number of people being diagnosed with swine flu over the past two days was because more people were being referred for the test. “The virus is in the air so we are bound to get cases,” said Dr G T Ambe, executive health officer of the BMC.

The civic body has now asked medical officers in wards to meet BMC school teachers over the next week. “The teachers will be asked to watch out for symptoms among the students,” said Dr Daksha Shah of the BMC’s epidemiology cell.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Pregnant-women-in-state-will-not-be-vaccinated-against-swine-flu/Article1-566226.aspx

[tetano]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest 9 mo girl 6/26)

15 test positive for H1N1

MUMBAI: As 15 more people tested positive for H1N1 on Friday, the BMC cautioned that increased numbers could be because of random testing in private labs. Since the onset of monsoon this year, 123 people have tested positive and nine have died due to swine flu.

The BMC said it is on a high alert and closely monitoring the situation. Pregnant women and children have to be particularly cautious as three deaths have already been recorded in the respective categories. Since last year, about 13% of swine flu victims have been pregnant women. "Since the epidemic began, 59 pregnant women out of 485 have died due to swine flu till. There is a slight increase in their positivity rates,'' said Dr Pradeep Awate, in charge, states swine flu cell.

The civic health officials also believe that the change in disease symptoms has aggravated the situation. "Number of patients coming with fever is on a decline and many who are testing positive are just suffering from sore throat,'' said executive health officer Dr Guirish Ambe. "Body ache and arthritis are quite common,'' he said.

Additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar said the civic administration has started putting up caution boards at chemists and medical shops.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/15-test-positive-for-H1N1/articleshow/6121840.cms

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest 9 mo girl 6/26)

One more dies of swine flu in Mumbai, toll rises to 10

STAFF WRITER 23:17 HRS IST
Mumbai, Jul 3 (PTI) With the death of a 51-year-old man due to swine flu, the toll due to the disease rose to 10 in the last two months.

"The victim, a resident of Santacruz, who was suffering from hypertension, died at a private hospital here last night.

He was hospitalised on June 25 and had completed his five-day Tamiflu course," a health official said.

This is the first death in July due to swine flu, seven deaths have been reported in June and two in May.

Over 120 people have tested positive for swine flu in Mumbai. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has put up caution boards at all chemist shops and have also issued advisory to schools to be on alert about the possible outbreak of swine flu.

http://ptinews.com/news/762678_One-more-dies-of-swine-flu-in-Mumbai--toll-rises-to-10

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest M/51 7/3)

http://www.hindustantimes.com/51-yr-old-dies-of-swine-flu-14-more-test-positive/Article1-567092.aspx

51-yr-old dies of swine flu, 14 more test positive
HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times

Mumbai, July 04, 2010
First Published: 01:01 IST(4/7/2010)
Last Updated: 01:03 IST(4/7/2010)

A 51-year-old man from Santacruz died of swine flu-related complications at a private hospital on Friday, taking the total swine flu toll in the city to eight this monsoon and 10 this year.

The latest victim was admitted to hospital on June 25 and administered Tamiflu on the same day.

?There was no delay in treatment, but he suffered from hypertension so that made him more vulnerable,? said Dr Daksha Shah of the municipal epidemiology cell.

Fourteen others, including five children and a pregnant woman, tested positive for the H1N1 virus on Saturday.

There was also a marked rise in the number of cases of rain-related illnesses, with 102 cases of malaria, 117 cases of gastroenteritis, two cases of dengue and about 200 cases of fever reported on Saturday.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has responded with a vector-control programme in the city?s old, congested and damp mill areas, with support from the Mumbai fire department.

Firemen have been roped in to carry out fogging to keep mosquitoes away.

The programme was flagged off on Saturday at India United Mill Number 3, Prabhadevi. Stagnant water that collects on the roofs and in dilapidated ruins of old mills will be sprayed with insecticide to curb the dengue and malaria-causing mosquito population.

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest M/51 7/3)

20 L (2 million)pregnant women may get H1N1 vaccine
Prafulla Marpakwar, TNN, Jul 7, 2010, 01.25am IST


Tags:vaccine|Pregnant women|
MUMBAI: Taking a cue from the Kerala government, the state public health department is considering administering an anti-swine flu vaccine to over 20 lakh pregnant women.

"We have carefully studied the Kerala model on the swine flu vaccine. A comprehensive proposal has been submitted to the government, it will cost the state exchequer Rs 80 crore if it is administered free of cost," a senior public health official told TOI on Tuesday.

Ever since the swine flu vaccine was made available, Kerala became the first state to administer it free of cost to pregnant women. In Maharashtra, a comprehensive three-tier plan was drafted for administration of the swine flu vaccine to doctors, paramedical staff and all employees in government hospitals. "It was unfortunate that barring a few doctors and paramedical staff, most have refused it. We have decided to return the remaining quota of the vaccine to the Centre," he said.

According to the official, following last year's outbreak in Maharashtra, particularly in Pune and later in parts of Mumbai, it appeared that the disease, which is accompanied by high fever, was well under control. However, now in view of the emergence of fresh cases and that too in a large number, it is clear that more effort will be required to tackle the disease.

The public health department has also conducted an analysis of the deceased. It was found that of 71 patients, 14 died at home, nine on the first day in hospital, eight after two days, five after three days. The maximum number of patients were in the age group of 21 to 30 (29), followed by 31 to 40 (11) and 41 to 50 (9). In only one case, the patient was not administered Tamiflu.

"We have already launched a massive awareness campaign but more effort is required. Besides educational institutes, NGOs should join our campaign. Even on a slight suspicion, the patient must consult a doctor and if required, start the Tamiflu treatment," the official said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Mumbai/20-L-pregnant-women-may-get-H1N1-vaccine/articleshow/6136729.cms

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest M/51 7/3)

8 more children test positive for swine flu in Mumbai
Jyoti Shelar / DNAThursday, July 8, 2010 0:36 IST Email


Mumbai: Sixteen people, including eight children and a pregnant woman, tested positive for swine flu in the city on Wednesday. Four of them were admitted to hospitals, and the remaining 12 were quarantined at home.


The swine flu pandemicThe first seven days of July have seen 104 people test positive for swine flu. The whole of June had seen 100 falling prey to the disease. Health authorities are particularly worried as 37 of the 104 are minors.

“The virus is present in the air, and the children are bound to get affected because of their low resistance,” Daksha Shah, head of the epidemiology cell of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said. The health workers are visiting residential areas and identifying symptoms of swine flu and the usual monsoon-related diseases as well, she added.

All government doctors dealing with H1N1 patients will soon have to sign a form, either consenting or declining to take the injectable swine flu vaccine. The decision was taken at a general review meeting held on Tuesday by Sharvaree Gokhale, additional chief secretary, public health.

“All medical and paramedical staff dealing with swine flu patients will have to sign the form. They can either take the vaccine, or declare that the health authorities should not be held responsible if they contract the disease,” Gokhale said. The forms will be distributed in the next three days.

The health authorities had been mulling over the issue for the past few weeks after the doctors showed very little interest in taking the French-made injectable vaccine. Gokhale said that the vaccines had been procured for the safety of the doctors. “Some 2,400 doctors across the state have taken the vaccine. No toxic side effect of the vaccine has been recorded so far,” she added.

The government procured 34,300 doses of the injectable vaccine, named Panenza, in March. The imported vaccine arrived after the swine flu scare had subsided, and found few takers. Most of the doctors prefer to use the swine flu nasal spray, which they believe has fewer side effects as it is non-invasive.

Gokhale said that the current status of the spread of H1N1, as well as the monsoon-related diseases, was discussed at Tuesday’s meeting. “No new decision was taken. Our strategy remains the same. The swine flu situation is not as frightening as it had been last year,” she said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_8-more-children-test-positive-for-swine-flu-in-mumbai_1406842

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking Fatalities in Mumbai (Latest M/51 7/3)

2 fall prey to rain-related ailments
TNN, Jul 8, 2010, 12.16am IST

MUMBAI: A 50-year-old man died of malaria,while another 41-year-old succumbed to the H1N1 virus on Wednesday.

A resident of Dahisar, the 50-year-old was admitted to a hospital since June 29. But due to complications he lost his life. This takes the toll of malaria-related deaths to six.

Meanwhile in the other case, Purshottam Kamat, a hotelier, died of swine flu. Kamat had approached a local doctor in Vasai with complaints of swine flu-like symptoms-high fever and cough-on Tuesday. The doctor administered medication and he returned home. At around 5 am on Wednesday, his condition deteriorated and he was taken to Golden Park Hospital where he died.

According to chief health officer of Vasai taluka Dr Anil Yadav, Kamat's symptoms were that of swine flu. We have sent his blood samples for testing.

Meanwhile, about 248 patients running a temperature were admitted to various hospitals across the city on Wednesday. Around 100 cases of malaria, 78 cases of gastroenteritis, 2 cases of leptospirosis and one case of dengue was reported.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City-Mumbai/2-fall-prey-to-rain-related-ailments-/articleshow/6140579.cms