2 women die of H1N1, 2019’s first victims from Mumbai

These are the first deaths of Mumbai residents caused by the respiratory infection in 2019.

Two residents of Mumbai, both women, died of H1N1 (swine flu) in March. A BMC committee reviewing the cause of deaths confirmed on Tuesday that the deaths of a 65-year-old from Mazagaon and a 30-year-old from Agripada were caused by swine flu.

Swine flu, a respiratory infection, generally spreads rapidly during winters, but there has been a spike in the number of cases across India even as warmer weather set in. (HT Photo)

These are the first deaths of Mumbai residents caused by the respiratory infection in 2019.

“The BMC committee confirmed this month that the two women died of swine flu [in March],” said Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer, BMC. Mumbai has so far recorded 135 cases of H1N1 and two deaths this year, compared to just 25 cases and no deaths in the first four months of 2018, according to data released by BMC on Tuesday. Swine flu, a respiratory infection, generally spreads rapidly during winters, but there has been a spike in the number of cases across India even as warmer weather set in.