NRI Gujarati dies of swine flu in Ahmedabad,fourth victim in India

A 43-year-old NRI swine flu patient, Pravinbhai Gandalal Patel admitted in Ahmedabad’s Civil hospital along with his wife Nayanaben who is also suffering from the same, died on early Sunday morning at 1:15 am.

This is the fourth swine flu related death in India. Earlier two patients in Pune and one in Mumbai died due to same.

According to Civil hospital sources close to DeshGujarat, The victim, an NRI Gujarati was admitted in the Civil hospital after treatment in city based private hospital where his wife also developed infection. The victim was taken to the Civil hospital, when his condition was critical due to severe lung infection. He was provided a ventilator and outside blood supply support. The patient had earlier complications as well. He had viral pneumonia, which is very difficult to treat, his hemoglobin was low at 5.2 (normally it should be above 10). All these peripheral problems added to the complications of swine flu.The victim arrived in India on July 31st from Atlanta, United States with his wife, and stayed at his brother’s flat in Ranip area.

The total toll of swine flu patient in Gujarat is 10 which is relatively very small compare to other states of the country. However even slow spread is dangerous and alarming and being taken seriously by the government which has formed a task force to deal with the spread of swine flu. The government has also set up a laboratory facility to test H1N1.

It is learnt that the state health department will be serving a notice to the private hospital that treated the NRI couple even after government’s strict announcement that any private hospital would have to transfer a suspected swine flu patient to the government facility after consultation with the health department immediately.