PM Calls for Better Coordination, H1N1 Toll Mounts to Four
As swine flu claimed its fourth victim in the country on Sunday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reviewed the situation with Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and asked his government to work in symbiosis with State governments on efforts to contain spread of the deadly H1N1 virus and set up a panel of experts to disseminate information on it.
Praveen Patel (43), the fourth swine flu victim in the country was an NRI, who returned to the country from the US some 10 days ago, he died at the Ahmedabad civil hospital, in the wee hours of Sunday.
At least 10 others have tested positive for H1N1 in Gujarat and are currently undergoing treatment at the same facility.
In neighbouring Maharashtra, the condition of at least three patients is reported to be critical, the three are currently reported to be on life support.
Schools and colleges in Pune, which has borne the brunt of the virus, have been ordered shut for a week.
Patel’s death takes the nationwide swine flu toll to four, the first death reported was that of Rida Sheikh (14), followed by Sanjay Tukaram Kokre (42) and Fahmida Panwala (53).
