Two women who were under treatment at the isolation ward of Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai with symptoms of swine flu died on Thursday night, sources at the hospital said.
One of them, Lakshmi, 51, was from Tiruvedagam near Madurai, and the other, Subbulakshmi, 61, was from Pandian Nagar in Tirumangalam.
A senior hospital official said at least 18 patients from Madurai and nearby districts, including four children, who had been tested positive for swine flu, were being treated at the GRH as on Friday. Meanwhile, K. Kolandaisamy, Director of Public Health, inspected the hospital and reviewed the treatment and preventive measures being taken for swine flu.
He said a mass fumigation and cleanup drive of public utility vehicles, including government and private buses, and places like bus stands had been initiated across the State from Wednesday in a bid to control spread of swine flu. “We are in discussion with various stakeholders to ensure that the drive has the maximum reach,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mallika, 61, wife of Kanagaraj of Andipatti, died of swine flu at Theni Government Medical College Hospital on Friday.
The family members of Mallika said she was down with fever and was referred from a hospital to the Andipatti hospital. After tests were done, she was admitted to the isolation ward. However, she died on Friday morning.
Following the death, health officials visited her village and intensified anti-dengue measures.