Pune: A 43-year-old resident of Pimpri-Chinchwad succumbed to H1N1 after a battle of nearly a week. Medical experts said the death was reason for worry as the district administration had recently declared that provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act might be lifted since the city and its vicinity had more or less become free of swine flu. The previous H1N1 death was recorded two months ago.
In the latest case, Pimple Gurav resident Basil Vanjari was admitted to Sahyadri hospital on Karve Road a week ago and was initially suspected to be suffering from pneumonia.
Dr Avinash Kulkarni, who was treating Vanjari, said that though he was being treated for pneumonia, Vanjari's samples were sent for H1N1 test within a day of admission as he had all the symptoms of swine flu.
"He was referred by a local physician in Aundh and the day he came in we put him on ventilator as he was in a bad condition. We knew within two days that he was suffering from H1N1 infection as his samples, which were sent to an authorised private lab, tested positive," said Dr Kulkarni. "We started Tamiflu for him as well as his immediate family as a precaution, but unfortunately he succumbed to the infection within a week."
Kin test negative
The doctor added that while Vanjari's wife and immediate family tested negative for the infection, a swine flu case resurfacing after so many weeks was worrying.
"Our team of doctors and nurses was shocked at this death because for months we thought the swine flu epidemic had abated. Though I don't think one sporadic case would mean a resurfacing of the epidemic, we should definitely find out the source of his infection as there could be many other positive cases," said Kulkarni. "Maybe these cases aren't being diagnosed because the patients are showing mild symptoms, but doctors still need to be alert."
Exposed to virus
At the Sahyadri hospital morgue, Vanjari's cousin Preetam Vanjari said the deceased ran a pathology laboratory and could have got the infection from anyone visiting his workplace.
"He ran the lab with his wife. He is survived by her and a young son," said Preetam. "No one from our family tested positive or has symptoms, but we don't know about the people who came to the lab."
Dr R R Pardeshi, Pune Municipal Corporation's medical officer, said that he knew of the H1N1 death but the patient was from Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) limits. PCMCs medical officer Dr Nagkumar Kunachgi said he was unaware of the case.
In the first week of February, District Collector Chandrakant Dalvi had said that district administration may propose the withdrawal of the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act since the threat of H1N1 virus had subsided and the act was no more needed.
Despite repeated attempts, Dalvi could not be contacted for comment, but medical experts said an H1N1 death after a gap of nearly two months was like an eye-opener.
"Herd immunity has gone up; around 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the population has received immunity either through immunisation or exposure to the virus. About 20 per cent of the people haven't yet got immunity and will still be at risk. This death should be a wake up call for doctors who have gone into a relaxed mode thinking that swine flu is out," said Dr Sharad Agharkhedkar, president of Indian Medical Association, Pune. "Swine flu is definitely here, it has become endemic to the city and doctors will have to be on guard against it."
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