BMC: Swine Flu Deaths Due To Delay In Medication

Bombay's Municipal Corporation's Health Department (BMC) have analysed the H1N1 cases in Mumbai only to find out that the time between onset of swine-flu symptoms and beginning of anti-viral drug Oseltamivir is around four to five days. The government, however, have recommended to begin medication within two days from the onset of symptoms. With the rise in swine flu cases in the past few weeks according to previous reports and worrisome rise in death toll because of it, has compelled the local bodies and health officials to stand up on their toes to rigorously run cleanliness drives around the city to spread the awareness on Swine-flu virus.

Out of 490 cases that were tested positive this year, the civic bodies have found that those in the age-group of 15-44 years were the worst affected of all. Apart from this, more men have acquired the infection than women in the city. According to their report, out of total cases, 56 % were male patients.

The H1N1 virus has spread exponentially with the onset of monsoon contributing to 313 cases. Out of all areas in the states, Pune, Nasik and Aurangabad have been worst affected due to the virus.
According to doctors who are handling such cases, patients only come for treatment when the virus affects them severely which paralyses the power of anti-viral drugs.

A team from the New Delhi's National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) visited the city, Thane and Pune and analyzing the grim situation, the team has strongly recommended home isolation for people with influenza-like illnesses. " It has also been advised that children should stay at home if the symptoms of fever, running nose, sore throat," directed an official. They also advised that Oseltamivir should be started within 48 hours.

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According to BMC's executive health officer Dr Padmaja Keskar, a death committee has been formed to review all the H1N1 death cases. "We have found that out of the 10 deaths reported in the 15 days of June, nine were caused by the H1N1 virus. However, deaths that happened in the last fortnight of June cannot be attributed to swine flu alone," she said.

The report also says that, over 800 gastroenteritis, 442 malaria and 20 cases of leptospirosis have been reported in June.

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