H1N1 toll goes up to 13 as two more die in Dakshina Kannada

Two women, one aged 58 and the other 21, died of the influenza last week

A(H1N1) influenza has claimed two lives in Dakshina Kannada in the last week.

With this, the toll goes up to 13 in the district since January, according to Health Department officials.

According to District Disease Surveillance Officer B.V. Rajesh, a 58-year-old woman from Maripalla village and a 21-year-old woman from Madantyar village in Belthangady taluk died of H1N1 in the last week of June.

Both, Dr. Rajesh said, suffered from cough and cold and later developed breathlessness.

It was on June 21 and June 22 that the two were found positive for influenza. Dr. Rajesh said that the 58-year-old woman failed to recover from the viral influenza and died a few days ago.

Dr. Rajesh said there was delay in getting treatment for the 21-year-old woman. Dr. Rajesh said that the woman, who had cold and fever, was taken to different hospitals in the area before she was brought to a private hospital in Mangaluru on June 22 where she was found positive for A(H1N1). “By that time, the influenza had reached an advanced stage and the treatment given had little effect,” he said.

Following the two deaths, medical treatment was given to family members who have been in close contacts with the victims.

Dr. Rajesh said that since January, 170 persons tested positive and of these, 62 persons are from the district. Of the 13 persons who died of the influenza, six are from the district, he added.