Mumbai: H1N1 claims 2 senior citizens, toll rises to 17

Two senior citizens from Mumbai became the latest victims of swine flu on Tuesday. The city also reported 12 new cases, in addition to three patients who were brought from outside the city for treatment.

Two senior citizens from Mumbai became the latest victims of swine flu on Tuesday. The city also reported 12 new cases, in addition to three patients who were brought from outside the city for treatment.

A 65-year-old man from Mulund, who died on Tuesday, was first admitted to a local clinic on March 20 and later moved to Fortis Hospital in Nahur on Friday. “He had hypertension. The cause of death was cardio-respiratory arrest in case of H1N1 positive,” said an official from the public health department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The second victim, a 64-year-old woman from Andheri who also had cancer, was admitted to BSES Hospital in Andheri, where she succumbed on Sunday. “The patient was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer and also had diabetes and hypertension,” said the official.

The toll in the city now stands at 17, with the total number of cases being 1,574. In the state, 4,574 cases have been recorded and the death toll stands at 404, with seven deaths being reported on Tuesday.

The rise in temperatures has reduced the transmission of the virus, said doctors. Compared to 40 new cases daily in the first week of March, the average number of new cases is around 10 now.