Patiala woman dies of swine flu

PATIALA: A 50-year-old woman of Jandoli village in Patiala district has succumbed to swine flu. Initially she was admitted to a government hospital, however, was later referred to a higher institute. This is the first swine flu death of the year.

After doctors recommended her to a higher institute, she was admitted to GMCH-32, where she took her last breath on Tuesday early morning.

The officials of health department said that the woman had taken treatment from some private hospital after which she reached a government hospital in Rajpura. They said that the patient was shifted to a government hospital in Chandigarh on January 6. Meanwhile, the health authorities in Patiala said that they had taken all necessary steps to sanitize people who came in contact with the deceased.

“We have given medicines to all those who were exposed to the virus due to the deceased woman. The deceased was cremated according to the norms, under the supervision of health authorities. The body of the patients was wrapped and brought by a health team to the cremation ground after which last rites were performed,” said Patiala epidemiologist Gurmeet Mann.

“We have sufficient medicines, masks and other things required to take precautionary measures. Besides this, separate ventilators have been kept for treatment of swine flu patients at Government Rajindra hospital,” he added.

As many as 11 special wards have been made for the treatment of emergency cases. Not only this, some special wards are established in civil hospitals and Community Health Centres (CHCs).

At present, there are six swine flu patients in Patiala, including one from Bathinda and Barnala each, who are admitted in Rajindra hospital.

Sources said that one of the cousins of chief minister Amarinder Singh caught swine flu and had undergone treatment at Columbia Asia Hospital in Patiala from where she was discharged on Tuesday evening.

Swine flu can lead to serious problems like pneumonia and lung infection. It can also make one's diabetes and asthma worse. If you have symptoms like shortness of breath, severe vomiting, pain in belly or dizziness, you must seek medical help.