A 63-year-old woman from Tirupur, who had been undergoing treatment for A (H1N1) influenza at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, died late on Friday.
CMCH authorities said that R. Vasantha was tested positive for the disease and all efforts were being taken to save her. However, the woman's condition deteriorated late on Friday and died around 11.45 p.m.
Two person, who were undergoing treatment for fever, also died at CMCH on Friday night.
A. Amudhan (5), a resident of Housing Unit at Variety Hall Road, died of fever on Friday night after undergoing treatment at CMCH for four days. The boy was said to have symptoms of dengue.
P. Sumathra (35), a native of Coonoor in the Nilgiris, also died of fever at CMCH on Friday night.
She had been undergoing treatment for fever and symptoms of A (H1N1) influenza here from October 30.
CMCH Dean B. Asokan said that Amuthan and Sumathra had died of bronchopneumonia, pneumonia characterized by acute inflammation of the walls of the bronchioles.
Dr. Asokan said that there has been an increase in the number of A (H1N1) influenza patients at CMCH over a period of one week.
“The hospital was treating three to four cases of A (H1N1) influenza patients per day on an average last week. Now the number has increased to 14 to 18 cases per day,” said Dr. Asokan. Majority of the patients were from neighbouring districts.
Around 700 people including hospital staff, crew of 108 ambulance and free mortuary van service, were given vaccination for A (H1N1) influenza as precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, there has not been a significant increase in the number of dengue cases handled at CMCH.
The hospital is treating two to three cases of dengue per day.