Mumbai: 9-year-old among three new swine flu fatalities

Three more swine flu deaths, including one of a nine-year-old, were reported in Mumbai, taking the toll from the H1N1 influenza infection to 42 this year, including 15 city residents.

The nine year-old girl succumbed to the infection at Kasturba Hospital, Chinchpokli, on Sunday. Doctors said the child, a resident of Kalyan, had a congenital heart condition for which she was operated in 2008. A 66-year-old man from Walkeshwar died of the infection at Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central.

According to the civic body, he had multiple medical conditions including diabetes, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, apart from acute kidney disorder. The other deceased, a 74-year-old Malad resident, who was also battling multiple myeloma (cancer of plasma cells), died of the infection at Nanavati Hospital on Saturday. “He died of multi-organ dysfunction along with sepsis (infection) and H1N1 influenza,” said civic officials.

The transmission of the virus, however, seems to be declining with only ten new cases reported on Monday by the municipal epidemiology cell. Last week, an average of 20 new cases were being reported daily from different parts of the city. In the first fortnight of March, around 40 new cases were being reported daily.

Doctors said that with rising temperatures the transmission of the virus seemed to be slowing down. “Those with pre-existing illnesses worsen quickly with the infection which is adding to mortality,” said, Dr Mangala Gomare, head of civic epidemiology cell.

Day temperatures in the suburbs increased to 35.2 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees Celsius above normal while maximum temperatures were 33.1 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees Celsius above normal, in south Mumbai. The city also saw a fall in moisture levels as compared to previous days. Humidity levels recorded at Santacruz and Colaba were 53% and 57% respectively.

This year, 1,562 Mumbai residents contracted the virus, which has killed 15 people from the city. Twenty-seven others who died of the infection at Mumbai hospitals were residents of neighbouring districts.

In Maharashtra, 10 new cases were reported to the state health department on Monday.