TIRUPATI: Panic moments were witnessed late on Monday night when a patient died of swine flu in Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) and a house surgeon of SVR Ruia Government General Hospital was isolated for suspected swine flu.
Lakshmi Narayana (63), a resident of Korlagunta here, was admitted to SVIMS on Saturday for treatment for pneumonia. On further tests, he tested positive to H1N1, following which he was isolated. He was also kept on ventilator. But he failed to respond to treatment and died on Monday night.
“Our hospital is equipped with all facilities to deal with the situation and the virus will perish on its own within a week, as we expect a rise in temperature,” says SVIMS Medical Superintendent V. Satyanarayana.
Meanwhile, a house surgeon of Ruia hospital, located in the contiguous compound, also showed symptoms of swine flu.
He developed high temperature, cold and cough, and was initially suspected to have contracted swine flu.
Hospital circles heaved a sigh of relief as his swab test yielded a negative result.
“We got the test report today and he tested negative for swine flu,” Ruia Medical Superintendent Sidda Naik told The Hindu.
The medical fraternity is panic-stricken as tens of thousands of outsiders, most of whom are pilgrims, descend on the city daily.
