New Delhi:
A 59-year-old man undergoing treatment for swine-flu at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi has died, in what is believed to be the first death from H1N1 influenza in the national capital this season.
The man hailing from Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital in critical condition on Tuesday and died the same night, hospital authorities said, reporting the casualty today.
"The patient's condition was critical and was admitted in the ICU of the hospital. He tested positive for swine flu and was referred to Safdarjung hospital from Apollo hospital," the medical superintendent of Safdarjung hospital, Dr AK Rai, said.
Meanwhile, a middle-aged woman, also from outside Delhi, is being treated at Safdarjung ICU for swine flu. The patient, doctors said, was referred by Fortis hospital.
Also, two men aged 68 and 32 years, natives of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, were admitted in the ICU of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital where they are undergoing treatment since October 2.
"The patients are critical and have been on ventilator support," said a senior official from the hospital.
Meanwhile, Delhi government has decided to double the number of hospitals beds to step up preparedness against H1N1 Influenza Virus (swine flu), which experts say will see a rise as temperature takes a dip.
Health Minister Satyendar Jain has directed that isolated wards in hospitals must be kept in a state of readiness and number of beds should be doubled than last year, said an official.
The health department has already stocked more than one lakh capsules and syrups of Oseltamivir Tamiflu/Fluvir) and, if required, more can be purchased, officials said.
Swine flu had assumed epidemic proportions last season which continued till mid-April this year afflicting over 4,259 people and claiming 12 lives in the city.