Two more flu deaths in Bangalore, nationwide toll mounts to 27

Bangalore, Aug 16 (PTI) Two women, both aged 27, have
succumbed to swine flu in this IT hub, raising the toll here
due to the virus to five and across the country to 27.

With this, Bangalore accounts for the second largest
number of flu deaths after Pune, where the toll is 12.

Besides Pune and Bangalore, one person each has died due
to the viral disease in Ahmedabad, Nashik, Chennai, Raipur,
Thiruvananthapuram and Bilapur. Two each have died in Mumbai
and Vadodara.

Shamshad Begum and Shilpa Hegde fell prey to the
infection at different hospitals here Saturday night, health
officials said Sunday. Their test reports confirmed swine flu
virus, they said.

Admitted to Baptist Hospital on August 10, Begum was
suffering from shortness of breath for the past three months
and from cough and cold and fever lately, Medical
Superintendent Chandy Abraham said.
She was diagnosed as a patient with cardiovascular problem
and signs of early pneumonia but she later showed symptoms of
A(H1N1) influenza and her throat swab tested positive saturday
night, Abraham and a health official said.

Begum, who was in the ICU, showed signs of improvement
initially but her condition deteriorated in the last three
days, Abraham said.

Shilpa, who was admitted to St John's Hospital on August
12 with complaints of cough, cold and bodyache, died late
Saturday night, the officials said.

They said her throat swab was collected on August 13 and
sent for tests. She was put on Tamiflu tablets even before the
test reports came, they said, adding that the infection in her
case was confirmed on August 14.

The hospital staff members of Baptist Hospital, who came
in contact with Begum and her relatives, have also been put on
Tamiflu tablets, Abraham said.

Stepping up its efforts to deal with the infection, the
Karnataka government had Saturday decided to rope in 53
private hospitals to fight the pandemic. PTI