A 65-year-old man who was undergoing treatment for A(H1N1) influenza at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) died in the early hours of Monday.
Palanisamy of Karamadai near Mettupalayam died despite being given all possible treatment for a week, the hospital authorities said.
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With the death of Palanisamy, the number of patients from Coimbatore who died of A(H1N1) influenza at CMCH has increased to two. N. Sumathi (60) from Jothipuram near Thudiyalur was the first person to die of the disease at CMCH this year.
Earlier, a tahsildar from Tirupur had died of the virus at a private hospital in Coimbatore.
Two persons, including a man from the Nilgiris, had also died of A(H1N1) symptoms at CMCH. However, officials are yet to confirm whether A(H1N1) influenza was the reason for their death.
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As on Monday, twelve persons – seven men and five women - tested positive for A (H1N1) influenza were undergoing treatment at CMCH.
Of these, nine patients are from Coimbatore.
Despite preventive measures taken by the Health Department, cases of virus infection are being reported from new places.
The nine patients from Coimbatore district are from places such as Ukkadam, Karimbukkadai, Ganapathy, Podanur, Chinnavedampatty, R. S. Puram, Kavundampalayam, and Mettupalayam. Meanwhile, one person who was undergoing treatment at CMCH was discharged on Monday.
Oseltamivir capsule
CMCH authorities said that they have adequate stock of Oseltamivir capsules to be administered to patients coming with symptoms of A (H1N1) influenza. The hospital has also started vaccinating medical team, paramedical team and other workers as a preventive measure.