BMC stockpiles drugs and equipment

Following the death of 33-year-old Jogeshwari resident, Femida Patanwala, of the influenza H1NI on Saturday afternoon, the BMC has sprung into action and piled up more medicines and ventilators. Both the deceased and another critical patient recuperating at Hiranandani Hospital have fallen prey to the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

Assistant municipal commissioner Manisha Patankar Mahiskar said Patanwala's death should not spark panic. "The hospitals are fully-geared to tackle the flu," she said. Kasturba, meanwhile, has purchased new ventilators. "We have seven now at Kasturba and about 27-odd across centres in the city," she said. "The number of beds can also be increased."

One patient tested positive on Saturday, taking the toll in Mumbai to 45 and state-wide to 230. "About 79 throat samples were collected at Kasturba Hospital, even as about 217 people came for screening," said Mahiskar. In the last four days, about 830 people in Mumbai rushed to get themselves tested.

"All the five centres will have resident doctors from teaching colleges — KEM, Sion and Nair hospitals — screening patients and isolating them if required," said Dr Sanjay Oak, director of teaching colleges and major hospitals, and dean of KEM Hospital. "Each screening centre will have at least 1-15 doctors."

A total of 140 beds have been reserved for H1N1 patients at Kasturba, Siddharth and MT Agarwal Hospitals in Chinchpokli, Goregaon and Mulund respectively. Besides, the state has received a supply of two lakh Tamiflu tablets and syrups from the central government on Saturday. "We have enough stocks of medicines and N95 masks for healthcare providers," said Dr DS Dakhure, head, state health services. "Across the state, 114 patients are undergoing treatment for influenza H1N1." He added that strengthening preventive measures is the only way to curb the virus.