Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 24)

[Ronan Kelly]

First swine flu death in Vellore

VELLORE: The first swine flu death was reported from Vellore district when Chandrakala (26), wife of Ramesh of Chinnamoganur village in Tirupattur taluk, died at Government Vellore Medical College Hospital (GVMCH) in Adukkamparai on Thursday night. Sources said that she was admitted to CMC, Vellore, on October 12 with symptoms of swine flu.

On Thursday, she voluntarily got herself discharged and got admitted to the isolation ward of the GVMCH at Adukkamparai.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/24/stories/2009102454860500.htm

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: First swine flu death in Vellore (Tamil Nadu total 5)

Pregnant woman dies of A(H1N1) flu

K.V. Prasad

COIMBATORE: A 22-year-old woman, who was into the eighth month of her first pregnancy, died of A(H1N1) influenza at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital on Thursday morning. With this, Coimbatore has registered its first officially declared A(H1N1) death.

Joint Director of Health M. Duraikannan said the woman was being treated for fever as an outpatient in a private hospital at Kavundampalayam near here. She was admitted to the CMCH on November 3 after she developed a respiratory problem.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/06/stories/2009110659950500.htm

[Roehl_JC]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 9)

Coimbatore, Nov 7 (PTI) Nine persons of the total of 2,029 who tested positive for swine flu over a period of time have died in Tamil Nadu so far, a top health department official said today.

Addressing a swine flu awareness camp here, Health Director Elango said about 12.87 lakh passengers who had come to Tamil Nadu by air and 13,365 who had arrived by ship had been screened for the flu virus.

Of this, about 19,500 samples with flu symptoms were sent for tests, of which 2,029 tested positive and nine had died, he said.

Claiming that the department had totally controlled the spread of flu in Chennai, he said steps were being taken to prevent it from spreading in Coimbatore.

He cautioned patients against getting quarantined in houses and urged them to go for treatment in government hospitals.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/366615_Nine-of-over-2000-H1N1-positive-persons-died-in-TN

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 9)

A(H1N1) epidemic on a downward curve, says Health Secretary

Ramya Kannan

Coimbatore, cause for worry; some deaths even after treatment

CHENNAI: The A(H1N1) epidemic is on a definite down curve in the State, Principal Secretary, Health, V.K. Subburaj, has said.

?The dip has begun and clearly, we can say that the epidemic is reaching a milestone in Tamil Nadu,? S. Elango, Director of Public Health, told The Hindu. Every epidemic has a down curve and the A(H1N1) has finally got there. The tapering off has taken place over the last month. The total number of suspected cases of A (H1N1) in Tamil Nadu was 18,564 as of October 31. The number of positive cases was 1814.

There have been eight deaths in the State directly attributed to A(H1N1) and though there have been insinuations of other deaths that were not reported, Dr. Elango said all those claims were verified and found to be false. The number of cases had certainly dropped since the first case was recorded in June and subsequently rose over the months, peaking at 716 cases in September. In October it dropped to 404.

The deaths occurred in some cases even after the treatment was completed, indicating that drug resistance was a bigger problem than was being recorded formally, Dr. Elango said. Also, public health officials had gathered ample evidence to prove that there was a carrier stage in the epidemic during which people harbouring the virus might not necessarily be ill.

He indicated that the State was interested in examining the validity of chloroquinine (used in the treatment of malaria) in treating this influenza.

While Chennai initially led the epidemic, the surrounding districts caught up over the months. The capital city continues to be the top, with 781 out of the total cases coming from here. As many as 250 cases are from neighbouring Kancheepuram and 98 from the northern neighbour Tiruvallur. The largest percentage of cases (35) affected the 6-14 age group, followed by the 21-40 age group, 29 per cent.

Mr. Subburaj said that the number of cases in Coimbatore, however, seemed to have gone up, comparatively. ?Even if we are on a down curve, it does not mean we can slacken. The vigil is up. Laboratories will continue to test and in Coimbatore, specially, we have taken up screening in schools as a preventive measure.?

Monitoring
Airports and seaports were being monitored by health officials in order to detect infections. Twenty-two airports across the nation continued to be under the scanner and the total passengers screened till date was 78,92,245.

Till date, samples from 73,149 persons have been tested for Influenza A(H1N1) in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country and 13,861 (18.9 per cent) of them found to be positive, according to data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Ministry?s update also mentions an increasing number of ?indigenous? cases as opposed to the beginning of the epidemic when travellers from abroad brought the flu into the country.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/09/stories/2009110959780700.htm

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 9)

Suspected A (H1N1) death in city
Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE: A 51-year-old man is said to have died of A (H1N1) flu in a private hospital in the city on Sunday.

Joint Director of Health M. Duraikannan, however, said that the throat swabs already tested locally would be sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases on Monday for another test.

Result

?We will investigate whether this is a case of A (H1N1) flu. Result will be known in three days,? Dr. Duraikannan said.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/09/stories/2009110959140300.htm

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 9)

* 50-year old woman succumbs to swine flu in TN hospital

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STAFF WRITER 23:0 HRS IST

Vellore (TN), Nov 25 (PTI) A 50-year old woman has succumbed to swine flu at the CMC Hospital here, taking the toll from the H1N1 virus in Tamil Nadu to ten.

The woman from nearby Vanniyambadi, who was undergoing treatment in the special ward since her admission last month, died yesterday, hospital officials said.

Initially the woman was admitted to the CMC for mysterious fever but later tested positive for the H1N1 virus, Dr Kurian Thomas of the hospital said.

The hospital waived the Rs 80,000 treatment cost after her son Satishkumar pleaded inability to settle the bill citing financial problems, Thomas said.

Satishkumar said he had spent nearly Rs three lakh on her treatment.

District Joint Director, Medical Services, Dr Bharathidasan said swine flu patients were being given free of cost treatment at the government hospital and asked affected persons to make use of the facilities there.

http://ptinews.com/news/394747_50-year-old-woman-succumbs-to-swine-flu-in-TN-hospital

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 10)

Woman dies of swine flu

Staff Reporter

Coimbatore: A 33-year-old woman hailing from Somayanur on Thadagam Road died of A (H1N1) influenza at the quarantine ward of the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital on Tuesday.

Hemant Prabha was admitted to the hosptial on Sunday after she complained of respiratory infection.

Hosptial sources said this is the third death caused by swine flu in Coimbatore. At present 13 are admitted to the quarantine ward.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/26/stories/2009112654440500.htm

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 10)

* Woman dies of swine flu; toll goes up to 11 in TN



STAFF WRITER 20:5 HRS IST

Coimbatore, Nov 26 (PTI) A 31-year-old woman succumbed to swine flu at a government hospital here, taking the toll due to the pandemic in Tamil Nadu to 11.

The woman, who was suffering from a respiratory tract problem, was being treated at a private hospital a fortnight ago and was shifted after she developed symptoms of swine flu, hospital sources said.

She died on November 24, the sources said.

Ten persons are currently undergoing treatment for swine flu in the quarantine ward of the hospital, where a total of 720 swine flu cases have been reported so far, the sources said.

http://ptinews.com/news/396098_Woman-dies-of-swine-flu--toll-goes-up-to-11-in-TN

[Roehl_JC]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 11)

CHENNAI: As the World Health Organization reported more than 1,000 deaths in the past week alone due to the H1N1 virus, health officials in Tamil Nadu are making plans to prevent its spread this winter by conducting door-to-door screening in six high-incidence districts, scanning students of all international schools and creating quarantine space in hospitals.


At a meeting chaired by health minister MRK Panneerselvam on Friday, senior doctors and health department officials decided to take urgent steps to stop the spread of the disease. So far, more than 2,300 people across the state have tested positive for the virus and nine deaths have been recorded. In Chennai, 1,400 people were infected and three died of the flu.

A major focus of the plan, according to director of public health Dr S Elango, is to avoid crowding at laboratories and hospitals. ?This time, the virus might be severe and we might possibly have higher rates of infections, with more severe symptoms,? he said.

Vaccine trials from December
The ICMR-funded countrywide trials of the A(H1N1) vaccine will begin in December in five medical colleges with 200 healthy volunteers. The research team will test the safety, immunogenicity and tolerability of the vaccine. Medical colleges in Vellore, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ludhiana and Pune will recruit volunteers and give them shots of the vaccine after a blood test. ?The only criteria for the volunteers is that they should not have a history of the viral infection. After a recommended period, we will test their blood to see if they have developed immunity,?? said Dr Dilip Mathai, head of the department of infectious diseases, Christian Medical College, Vellore.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/TN-braces-for-another-H1N1-wave-/articleshow/5280594.cms

[Roehl_JC]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 11)

NAGERCOIL: Two persons, including a woman, quarantined in a special ward at Kanyakumari Government College Hospital (KGMCH) with symptoms of swine flu, succumbed to the disease recently, taking the toll in Kanyakumari district to 10.

This spiraling number has left the health officials scratching their heads.

John (42), a resident and milk seller of Maruthancode, was admitted to a private hospital at Marthandam with symptoms of normal fever. Apprehensive over his health condition, the doctors referred him to the KGMCH on Wednesday night. Half-an-hour after his admission at the special ward, he breathed last. Similarly, Selvi (40) from Kalikkavilai, who was admitted to the KGMCH on Thursday afternoon with symptoms of swine flu, succumbed to the deadly disease. Out of over 50 cases reported in the district, 10 have died.

But Deputy Director (Health) Mathusudhanan is in denial mode. He told Express on Thursday that Kanyakumari district had reported only two swine flu deaths and that of Valsala Kumari and Petronic Felix, among 40- odd cases. Other deaths could not be attributed to H1N1 influenza, he said.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Swine+flu+toll+touches+10+in+Kanyakumari&artid=D9fx0e6ZmpA=&SectionID=vBlkz7JCFvA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=EL7znOtxBM3qzgMyXZKtxw==&SEO=

comment: that may indicate Tamil Nadu should have 10 more deaths added, for Kanyakumari District, but confirmations may not be forthcoming...

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 11)

Girl student dies of swine flu

STAFF WRITER 23:25 HRS IST
Coimbatore, Feb 9 (PTI) An MBA girl student died of swine flu at a private hospital in the city today.

The 21-year-old student, a resident of Rathinapuri in the city, was admitted to the hospital three days ago with symptoms of fever and throat pain.

As the symptoms continued for the fourth day today and her condition worsened, her swab samples were sent to a testing centre where it tested positive.

She was then taken to the government hospital here, hospital sources said adding however she was declared brought dead.

http://ptinews.com/news/509852_Girl-student-dies-of-swine-flu

[tetano]

MBA student dies of Swine Flu in Coimbatore!

By Riyanki/Agencies
Coimbatore: One more Swine Flu death in Coimbatore! The city registered the death of a 21 year old female MBA student in a private hospital today.

one-more-swine-flu-death-in-coimbatore

She died due to swine flu or influenza A (H1N1) virus. The girl was an inhabitant of Rathinapuri, Kolkata.

Three days ago she was admitted to a private hospital as she showed symptoms of throat pain and fever.

As her condition worsened and her symptoms of throat pain and fever continued till the fourth day, her swab sample was straight away sent to a swine flu testing lab where it was tested positive.

As a result of which she was right away taken to a Government hospital where the hospital sources declared that the girl was brought dead.

http://www.duniyalive.com/?p=98794

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 8)

First positive case since March 25th;

Woman tests A (H1N1) positive
Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE: A 29-year-old pregnant woman from Pollachi has tested positive for A (H1N1) influenza. Deputy Director of Health Services S. Senthilkumar, however, said on Saturday that it was not an indigenous case.

The woman, admitted to an isolation ward in a private hospital, was employed in Bangalore. She was not well and had complained of difficulty in breathing on arrival on April 24 from Bangalore, Dr. Senthilkumar said, quoting her family members.

?Our enquiry so far has not revealed any case in the family at Pollachi,? the official said. But, a thorough check would be made on Sunday. ?We will check whether there was a history of contact,? he said. But, he was confident that she had not contracted the virus in Coimbatore.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/02/stories/2010050260750300.htm

Of interest is the implied origin of the infection in Bangalore, Karnataka. Karnataka has seen an increase in cases and fatalities in the past several weeks. There have also been fatalities recently in the City of Sangli, Maharashtra on the border with Karnataka at least one of whom was a Karnataka native.

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 8)

Plan to open A(H1N1) flu screening booths

K.V. Prasad

On Tamil Nadu-Kerala border in 6 districts


COIMBATORE: The Department of Public Health plans to put up A(H1N1) influenza screening booths at the check posts on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border in Nagercoil, Tirunelveli, Theni, Coimbatore, Tirupur and the Nilgiris districts.

The move comes in the wake of a number of cases being reported in Kerala, Director of Public Health R.T. Porkai Pandian told TheHindu here on Sunday. The screening would, however, be voluntary. There was no plan for compulsory screening of passengers who travelled from Kerala by buses or other modes of transport, he said.

With a 45-year-old man of Nagercoil testing positive for the flu recently, the health department wanted to tighten surveillance and also step up sensitisation at points where human habitations were high on either side of the border.

A doctor, a village health nurse and a health inspector would be posted in each booth.

If people with sore throat and fever approached them, they would be checked for more definite symptoms and advised to go the nearest primary health centre. Handbills containing instructions on how to avoid spreading or contracting the flu virus would be distributed.

Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam and Principal Secretary, Health, V.K. Subburaj would hold a meeting in Coimbatore on June 15 with Joint Directors of Health Services of six districts and also the Deans of medical college hospitals, if any, in these areas, Dr. Porkai Pandian said.

Asserting that there was no case of A (H1N1) flu in Coimbatore, he said the department was maintaining extra vigil in view of the World Classical Tamil Conference to be held here from June 23 to 27. The onset of the monsoon also was the reason for extra caution.

“Surveillance is being tightened and there is adequate stock of Tamiflu capsules. But, the good news is that the mosquito density in Coimbatore is very less. Therefore, there is no need to fear any outbreak,” he said after reviewing the diseases prevention measures for the conference.

“We have posted a good number of officials and workers along the city-rural border within Coimbatore district to prevent the occurrence of any disease,” the health official said.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/14/stories/2010061460680800.htm

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 8)

Swine flu alert sounded

C ShivakumarFirst Published : 15 Jun 2010 07:24:50 AM ISTLast Updated : 15 Jun 2010 08:05:34 AM IST

CHENNAI: The government has alerted authorities in six bordering districts of the State after 11 new cases of swine flu were reported from neighbouring Kerala in the last two days.


Health Secretary V K Subburaj said on Monday the fresh cases of swine flu in Kerala were due to the onset of monsoon there and health authorities in Tamil Nadu had been alerted in the six districts to take preventive measures.

Dismissing fears that the outbreak might hamper the World Classical Tamil Conference in Coimbatore, he said the health authorities were adequately trained to tackle the disease and the government had adequate stock of medicines.

?We have also opened stalls to screen those who have symptoms of the disease,? he said after inaugurating the Preventive Heart Failure Clinic at Global Hospitals and Health City here.

On reports that the WHO had wasted large sums of public money by sparking unjustified fears on it, he said, ?There was a lot of hype about the disease. It is just like any another flu that can be treated.?

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/swine-flu-alert-sounded/181742.html