Mumbai: The death of 53-year-old Fehmida Panwala in Mumbai has put the Maharashtra government on high alert.
She is the first swine flu casualty in the city and the second in the country.
Panwala was suffering from hypertension and diabetes and was initially admitted to Ruby Nursing Home. Later she was shifted to Lilavati Hospital and then to Kasturba Hospital’s swine flu ward on Friday night.
According to the Civic Health officials by the time she was admitted to Kasturba Hospital her condition was critical.
“She was already on the ventilator and was suffering from multi-organ failure,” says Mumbai Mayor Shubha Raul.
Panwala was reportedly administered Tamiflu but did not respond to the treatment.
“We had put her on ventilator and also started Tamiflu but she didn’t respond to the treatment,” says Chief Executive Health Officer of Mumbai, Jairaj Thanekar.
Meanwhile, the government continues to insist that there is no need to panic and that they are well-equipped to deal with the virus.
“The doctors tried their best to save Famida. Her death is a serious situation but we shouldn’t panic,” says Maharashtra Chief Minister, Ashok Chavan.
“Everybody owes something to the nation so I am sure you will understand if I urge the media not to spread panic,” says Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad.
Concerned over the rising H1N1 cases, the administration has increased the virus screening facilities in Mumbai to six.
Apart from the Kasturba Hospital, five other hospitals have been brought on board in Mumbai.
These include the Siddhartha Hospital in Goregaon, MT Agarwal Hospital in Mulund, Bhagwati Hospital in Borivali, Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar and the BABHA Hospital in Bandra. The number of beds at the Kasturba will also be increased by Monday.
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