City sees first H1N1 death in 18-month-old

Mumbai: An 18-month-old boy from Worli died of swine flu on Friday last week, the first death in two years in Mumbai. This year, 22 cases have been reported in the city.

A civic official said the baby had been suffering from fever and vomiting since April 11. “He was taken to Dawood Hospital in Byculla on April 18 and then shifted to Noor Hospital on April 21 when his condition worsened,” said the official, adding that by the time the baby was shifted to Kasturba Hospital on April 25, he had to be put on ventilator. There was a severe delay in diagnosis of H1N1 as the baby was started on the influenza medication only at Kasturba Hospital.

In Maharashtra, 844 cases and 165 deaths have been reported this year.