Swine Flu death toll in Madurai touches four

A 52-YEAR-OLD man and a seven-month-old fetus succumbed to swine flu at the Government Rajaji Hospital here on Friday, taking the death toll due to influenza to four in the district. According to hospital sources, Samiraj (52), a resident of Alagapuri in Alagarkoil, tested positive for swine flu last week at the GRH. He was treated at the quarantine H1N1 ward of the hospital.

Developing complications during the course of treatment, Samiraj breathed his last in the midnight on Friday. In a tragic end on Thursday night, swine flu claimed the life of a seven-month-old foetus of C Ponnamal (19), a resident of Natham in Dindigul district, who was also receiving treatment at the hospital. Earlier, 45-year-old K Meenakshi, a resident of Pykara in Madurai, and V Krishnammal (75), a resident of Palladam in Tirupur, succumbed to swine flu on October 19 and October 24 respectively, while receiving treatment at GRH.

Presently, three persons tested positive for swine flu earlier are receiving treatment at the quarantine H1N1 ward at GRH. The patients are S Suseela (55) of Kulamangalam in Madurai, Ponnamal and V Jeeva (23) from Jaihindpuram. Meanwhile, in Coimbatore, five persons reportedly died of fever on Thursday. Swine flu was said to be the cause death of two persons.