Swine flu toll rises to 36 in Mumbai; kids, elderly most affected

A two-year-old girl died of swine flu in the city on Monday. Also, two senior citizens succumbed to the H1N1 virus on August 13 and 14. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC's) review committee has ascertained that the toll in the city has now touched 36.

The girl was a resident of Chembur and admitted to Rajawadi Hospital on Saturday. She was started on Oseltamivir, also known as Tamiflu, the only available drug used to treat H1N1 virus, immediately. The BMC said the baby, however, died within 48 hours of admission. She had acute respiratory distress.

Earlier, a 63-year-old man from Null Bazaar and a 74-year-old man from Powai succumbed to the virus on August 13 and 14, respectively. The 63-year-old was admitted to JJ hospital on August 11 and started on Oseltamivir.

He too died within 48 hours of admission due to a cardiorespiratory arrest. The 74-year-old, on the other hand, had Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. While he was admitted to Holy Spirit Hospital in Andheri East on August 6, he was started on Oseltamivir after 48 hours. The virus led to pneumonia and sepsis, resulting in his death.

"We know now that if there is any delay in the treatment it impacts the patient adversely. Oseltamivir has to be started within the first three days," said Dr Om Shrivastava, consultant for infectious diseases. "It is clinically observed that healthy individuals, who are infected, are succumbing within 48 hours, as, in some cases, their own immune system may attack them. Those with co-morbid conditions (cancer, diabetes or high BP) take longer to succumb."

There are close to 15,000 private practitioners in Mumbai, and, in an ongoing process, the BMC is training them in treatment protocol. "Even if a patient is suffering from mild fever and symptoms, they should see a doctor and Oseltamivir should be started before lab tests arrive, but that is at the doctor's discretion," said Dr Mini Khetrapal, BMC epidemiologist.

Since August, the BMC has recorded 228 confirmed cases of H1N1 in Mumbai, and nine have died. In 2015, the city has recorded 2,269 cases of swine flu and 36 deaths.

Associate professor, Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Dr Pratit Samdani said, "Everyday, I see up to three people with flu-like symptoms. Three weeks ago, a pregnant woman, who was in her last trimester, was afflicted with swine flu. Thankfully, she is infection-free now; she delivered twins. Another woman, four weeks pregnant, was also infected."

The BMC has recommended that all pregnant women get vaccinated for swine flu, after the state technical advisory committee's guidelines were revised. The vaccine costs Rs350 and lasts for up to 10 months.

"In Mumbai, not more than 63 pregnant women have taken the vaccine. People have reservations and are worried about the foetus and the health of the woman. Even though serum sickness or an immune reaction to the vaccine is rare, people are reluctant," said a senior BMC official.

Vital facts
Swine flu is an air-borne virus.
Mild symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat with or without bodyache, headache, diarrhoea and vomiting.
Severe symptoms are high-grade fever, severe sore throat with breathlessness, chest pain, drowsiness, low BP, blood in cough and bluish discoloration of nails.
Pregnant women, people over 65 years with lung, heart, liver and kidney diseases, blood cancer or HIV/Aids, are high-risk patients.
In case of mild or severe symptoms, one must immediately see a physician.
Tamiflu or Oseltamivir can be taken symptomatically, as prescribed by the doctor, even if the test results of cheek swab samples have not arrived from the diagnostic laboratory.