Zirakpur man dies of swine flu

Zirakpur, September 19

In less than a month, three residents of Zirakpur have died of swine flu during treatment at Chandigarh hospitals. The latest victim is 65-year-old Kirti Kumar of Green City, Zirakpur, who succumbed to the virus within two days of his hospitalisation at the PGI. Sources said the family was advised to take the body with a proper wrapping to the cremation ground directly for the last rites. Earlier this month, the death of a three-year-old child and a 67-year-old woman, both residents of Zirakpur, had spread panic in the town.

Kirti Kumar was admitted to the PGI on September 16 in a critical condition and was put on ventilator support. Doctors were continuously monitoring his health. The patient did not have any travel history.

So far, nine positive cases of swine flu have been reported from Zirakpur of whom three succumbed to the deadly virus.

A three-year-old boy from Zirakpur became the first victim of swine flu this year. The infant was admitted to the PGI in a critical condition on August 24. The boy died on September 3.

The second casualty was that of a 67-year-old woman from Baltana, who succumbed to the virus at Fortis Hospital on September 4. The Health Department had found that the patient had a travel history. The victim had travelled to Haridwar on August 25 before falling sick. —OC