GRH shock: Injured teen contracts H1NI, succumbs

According to Dr D Maruthupandian, dean of the hospital, the boy was admitted in the GH about 45 days ago after he met with a accident.

“The boy tested positive for swine flu on Wednesday. He was subsequently treated in a special ward. Despite all efforts to save him, Tharanitharan died on Friday afternoon,” the dean said, adding that he may have contracted the flu either from his relatives or hospital attendants.

With Friday’s fatality, the swine flu death toll now stands at 10 over a period of last 40 days as far as the Madurai GRH is concerned.

“Currently, a total of 106 fever cases are being treated in the hospital. Among these cases, 17 adults and three children have tested positive for H1N1 influenza. These patients are under constant observation and being provided with adequate medical care in the swine flu ward,” Maruthupandian said.

Two persons died at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchy on Friday evening with suspected symptoms of swine flu.

Sundharavel (23) and Rani (45), belonging to Senthurai in Ariyalur district and Palakarai in Tiruchy district respectively, were being treated at the hospital for fever.

When contacted, Hospital dean Dr G Anitha denied that the two were infected by H1N1 virus and said their test results came in negative.

According to sources, the Tiruchy GH was treating five confirmed cases of swine flu as of Saturday. Their health condition is said to be stable.

Stepping up the inspection of hospitals, Dr Swathy Rathnavathi, Additional Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, visited several hospitals in Tiruchy and Karur on Friday to review their prevention and control capability.