Another patient dies of swine flu in Rawalpindi

The latest death takes the toll to four

ISLAMABAD: Another patient of swine flu died in Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi on Sunday, taking the death toll to four so far.

As many as 19 patients with signs and symptoms of swine flu reported at the Holy Family Hospital out of which six were confirmed positive for the infection by the National Institute of Health, Islamabad.

According to sources, Yasmeen, who had been under treatment at the Fauji Foundation Hospital for swine flu passed away on Sunday.  Earlier, Naseem Begum from Chakwal and two patients, Rasheed and Imran, residents of Rawalpindi also died of swine flu.

The latest death has taken the toll of swine flu in Rawalpindi to four, though the patients were tested positive for swine flu after their deaths.

As many as five patients of swine flu, including two confirmed cases and three suspects, are under treatment at the Holy Family Hospital while test results are awaited in 10 cases other cases.

All the three patients who died of swine flu at the Holy Family Hospital were taken to the hospital in critical condition and it can be termed that they could not survive mainly because of the delay in reporting, said a top official at the hospital requesting anonymity.

He said an old man and a female patient, who died at the Holy Family Hospital, were brought to the hospital with severe pneumonia and they were unable to respond to antibiotics. “The Holy Family Hospital received a total of 19 patients of which six have been confirmed positive for swine flu,” he added.

In-charge infectious diseases unit at Rawalpindi Medical College and allied hospitals Dr Javed Hayat said there was no need to panic and people should adopt preventive measures to avoid flu and patients of seasonal infections should follow preventive measures to avoid spread of the diseases.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2016.