Man dies of swine flu in Srinagar hospital

Swine flu claimed yet another life in Kashmir valley bringing the toll to four since December 2012, according to sources in the state’s premier Institute of Medical Sciences.

The sources said that the man who succumbed to the deadly H1N1 infection was ironically an employee of the medical institute and had been under treatment at the hospital.

His condition had deteriorated few days earlier and had been put on a ventilator. A senior doctor at the institute who wished to be anonymous confirmed the man from north Kashmir had died of the Swine flu.

“The institute has been receiving cases of respiratory infection including that of H1N1 flu since the onset of winter in Kashmir. This is in keeping with a similar trend in North America and Western European countries,” he said.

“Most of these cases get successfully treated and discharged. Previously we would not know as to what caused the respiratory illness but with the setting up of a specialized laboratory 3 years ago, we are able to diagnose these viral infections in as little as 3-4 hours and institute appropriate treatment. This was simply impossible few years ago," he added.

Health officials are advising people to avoid direct contact with infected persons, and wash their hands frequently. They also say that the infected person should wear a face mask and cover their cough and sneezes. The infected person should stay at home and avoid attending social functions.