A 35-year-old man from Sriharipuram area of the city had succumbed to swine flu while undergoing treatment at a city hospital on Tuesday. He was admitted in the hospital on March 26 with pneumonia and spitting blood with cough. This was the second death due to swine flu in the city during this year after a woman in her mid twenties and in advanced stage of pregnancy died on January 29.
He was immediately put on ventilator and doctors started treatment for swine flu and the test confirmed swine flu on March 28 and he continued to be on ventilator as his lung had collapsed. Swine flu symptoms were noticed two or three days before he was admitted in the hospital, District Nodal Officer for swine flu L.B.H.S. Devi said.
The victim went on a South India tour one month ago but he could not have contacted swine flu during the tour since swine flu would come out in about 10 days after the virus was contacted, Dr. Devi said. Fifteen members of his family were given preventive treatment.
The H1N1 virus that causes swine flu has entered India in 2009 through foreigners or Indians returning from abroad and several deaths were reported at different places. Visakhapatnam, a place where more foreigners come for a visit or more Indian travel back to the country, recorded highest number of swine flu deaths in the State after Hyderabad. The number of cases has come down very much at present but since the virus is still there in the atmosphere, persons with low immunity level would be affected, Dr. Devi said.
