NRI dies of swine flu in Ahmedabad, death toll rises to four

Ahmedabad, Aug 9 (ANI): A 43-year-old non - resident Indian (NRI) died of swine flu early Sunday morning at the City Civil Hospital here, registering the first death by H1N1 virus in Gujarat.

With this, the country has seen four deaths from swine flu and the number of infected cases rising to 782.

On Saturday, 53-year-old Fahmida Panwala from Mumbai and 42-year-old teacher Sanjay Tukaram Kokre from Pune had died of swine flu. Earlier on August 3, a 14-year-old schoolgirl Reeda Shaikh had died in Pune.

Confirming the first death due toH1N1 virus in Gujarat, State Health Secretary Ravi Saxena said Praveen Patel, an NRI, died of swine flu at the City Civil Hospital at around 1:30 a.m..

Sexena explained that Patel was brought to the Civil Hospital in critical condition on Saturday morning.

Patel, who had returned from Atlanta, USA on July 31, was treated by a private hospital in the city for pneumonia and common flu on Friday, sources said.

Private Hospital referred Patel to the Civil Hospital after realizing that it was not common flu, sources added.

According to a medical report given by the City Hospital, Patel's left lung was damaged badly.

Sexena informed that so far ten people have been tested positive for H1N1 virus in the state, including Patel's wife and they are being treated at the City Hospital. (ANI)