Thaindian News

Pune/Ahmedabad, Aug 9 (IANS) A 42-year-old man in Pune and an NRI who had arrived in Ahmedabad from the US last month succumbed to swine flu early Sunday, taking the toll from the Influenza A(H1N) virus in India to four, officials said.
Sanjay Kokare, a schoolteacher from a village near Pune, died in Sassoon Hospital - becoming the third swine flu victim in Maharashtra.

“Sanjay Kokare had been admitted to a hospital just two days ago and he passed away this morning (Sunday) at Sassoon Hospital at around 1 a.m.,” Pradeep Awate, head of Maharashtra’s Swine Flu Control Room, told IANS.

Kokare had been admitted to a hospital in Khedegaon village near Pune July 31, said Ashok Ladda, additional director of the family welfare department.

“He had improved and was at home for two days. Thereafter his condition again deteriorated and he was taken to a private hospital in Pune. He was shifted to Sassoon Hospital two days back and was on ventilator. But he did not revive,” Ladda said.

Pravin Patel, a 43-year-old non-resident Indian (NRI) who arrived in Ahmedabad from Atlanta July 31, also died of Influenza A (H1NI) early Sunday. He and his wife had tested positive for swine flu Saturday.

Patel succumbed to the virus at the civil hospital in the Gujarat city.

“The NRI, who came from Atlanta, has died of swine flu. This is the first swine flu death in Ahmedabad. The patient had earlier complications as well - he had viral pneumonia, which is very difficult to treat, his haemoglobin was low. All these outer problems added to the complications of swine flu and he passed away,” Gujarat Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas told IANS.

On Saturday evening, a 53-year old woman, Fahmida Paanwala, died of swine flu in Mumbai’s Kasturba Hospital. On Aug 3, a 14-year old girl, Reeda Shaikh, died in Pune. She was the country’s first swine flu fatality.

Medical authorities are closely monitoring the condition of three other people - a medico and a pharmacist, who are in critical condition in Pune, and a 28-year-old businessman lying critical in a Mumbai suburban hospital.