A 49-year-old man, Ponnusamy, belonging to Annur in the district died of A (H1N1) influenza in the early hours of Friday at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.
This is the second case of A (H1N1) flu death in 10 days in Coimbatore. A Chennai-based bank official died of the flu here on September 7. Four deaths were reported last year.
“Ponnusamy was first admitted to a private hospital at Annur on September 9 with fever, cough, headache and body pain. He was shifted to a private multi-speciality hospital in the city two days later when his condition did not improve,” Deputy Director of Health Services V. Vijayalakshmi said. Ponnusamy was already suffering from hypertension.
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“When there was no improvement despite the treatment in the intensive pulmonary care unit in the city hospital, doctors suspected A (H1N1) flu. Throat and nasal swabs were taken early on September 16 (Thursday) for tests.
The results received that night confirmed that he tested positive for the flu,” Dr. Vijayalakshmi said.
Ponnusamy was then shifted to the medical college hospital late in the night on Thursday.
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He died around 3.40 a.m. on Friday.
The hospital said the flu led to respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.