Dadu Majra man dies of swine flu

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 3

A 31-year-old Dadu Majra resident died of swine flu at the PGI today. He was admitted to the hospital a week ago. This is the 14th swine flu death reported from the tricity this season so far. The total number of swine flu cases, including the deaths, has reached 37.

All members of his family and those who carried the body were given tamiflu as a preventive measure.

“Though the body was taken directly to the cremation ground from the PGI to prevent the spread of the infection, residents expressed concerns regarding the precautionary measures to be taken while handling the cremation,” said the general secretary of the Residents Welfare Assosiation, Sector 38 (West), Narinder Chaudhary.
A team of multi-purpose health workers visited the area. “The pyre was lit by the deceased’s father. Only 15 persons attended the cremation,” said one of the workers.
“All 15 members who attended the funeral were given tamiflu,” said the nodal officer for the National Vector-Borne Disease-Control Programme, Dr Anil Garg.
On March 1, a 50-year-old woman from Mohali died of swine flu at the PGI. She was a resident of Sector 80, Maulibadwan village, and was admitted to the PGI on February 28.

Two more deaths reported from PGI
A 30-year-old man from Ludhiana and a 30-year-old woman from Ambala died at the PGI on Tuesday due to swine flu. The H1N1 virus continues to spread its tentacles in the city.  Residents are on tenterhooks due to the H1N1 scare.