Swine flu claims another life; death toll reaches 10

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 30

One more death due to swine flu has taken the death toll to 10. A 58-year-old woman admitted to the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital belonging to Ferozepur succumbed to the flu today.

District epidemiologist Dr Ramesh said the patient was admitted to DMCH on January 19 and breathed her last today.

Dr Ramesh advocated people to adopt hygienic habits to keep swine flu at bay. He said those suffering from flu-like conditions should avoid going to crowded places.

With 10 swine flu deaths at city hospitals, people are either postponing their visit to the hospitals or are avoiding it.

Anita Mehra, a resident of Aggar Nagar whose distant relative is admitted to the DMCH, said she has decided not to visit her relative at the hospital but instead when the patient returns home.

“Swine flu patients are coming up every day and keeping this in my mind, I decided not to visit them at the hospital. It is risky to go to the hospital as one can easily catch infection from there,” she said.

Another patient, Manjeet Kaur, who was to go to her doctor at a local hospital for regular check-up, said she preferred visiting her doctor at his private clinic as the number of patients coming there was less.

Tejinder Singh, whose father is admitted to the emergency ward of a prominent hospital of the city, said he was taking every precautionary measure — from wearing a mask to using hand sanitiser frequently.

“Prevention is better than cure and I am adopting every preventive measure against swine flu. I am also thinking of getting myself vaccinated as my father will be staying in the emergency for a week or so,” he said.