Swine flu patient dies, toll reaches 5

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 15

With one more death, the swine flu death toll reached five today in the district. A 64-year-old patient from Nyi (New) Basti died this morning. The patient was being treated at Fortis Hospital, Mohali. The cremation was supervised by teams from the Health Department..

A week ago, a 35-year-old woman from Mehraj village of Bathinda district died. She was cremated under the supervision of health teams from Bathinda as well as from Ludhiana, where she was undergoing treatment.

Another death was reported on February 9 when a male patient from Talwandi Sabo of Bathinda breathed his last.

The district health authorities claimed that attendants of patients who were being confirmed with swine flu were being given tamiflu medicine as precaution from the disease.

The health authorities are also sending teams to create awareness among the masses about swine flu precautions and symptoms.

Earlier, in the first week of February, a 29-year-old female resident of Goniana took her last breath at Fortis Hospital in Ludhiana.

Bathinda Civil Surgeon Dr Tejwant Singh Randhawa said, “Five deaths have been reported till now in the district. Around 15 samples have been taken this year, out of which, eight have been reported positive, including those of five patients who died. We are creating awareness among the masses about the swine flu precautions and symptoms.”

He said people should avoid going outside in crowds and also avoid shaking hands with people affected from cough. One should wash his hands frequently and get nutritious and healthy diet.