One case of A(H1N1) flu death has been confirmed in the State.
Ramanathan (34) of Tiruchendur died at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital on Monday.
Five other positive cases were reported on Tuesday.
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According to Public Health officials, Ramanathan, who had a history of travel to Gujarat, fell ill on his return and was admitted to a private hospital in Tiruchendur on July 6.
On July 9, he was shifted to a private hospital in Tirunelveli.
On July 11 he was moved to Tirunelveli Medical College.
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Lab reports confirmed that he had been infected with the A(H1N1) virus.
Two persons in Coimbatore, one male and the other female, had been admitted for suspected A(H1N1). Their lab results confirmed the suspicion on Tuesday.
One patient from Ariyalur had been admitted to the government hospital in Coimbatore. His results have also turned out to be A(H1N1) positive.
At Madras Medical College here, the lab results of two patients, one male and the other female, who had been admitted with symptoms of A(H1N1) were positive for the virus.
On Tuesday morning, Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam told reporters that the government was trying its best to control the spread of A(H1N1).
Prompt response
As soon as a case was reported, a team of public health officials would descend on the neighbourhood where the patient lived and screen his family, neighbours and all those in recent contact with him/her for the infection.
While health staff have been given vaccine shots to protect them from the infection when they are handling patients, the vaccine is now available in the market, he added.