Swine flu claims first victim in state

SHILLONG: A patient who was admitted in a city hospital with swine flu (H1N1 virus) passed away on Sunday.
The 58-year-old woman from Arbuthnot in the city was admitted at Nazareth Hospital on October 17.
She had symptoms of fever, cough, weakness and respiratory distress after visiting her son in Pune.
Another 29-year-old woman from Mumbai, also quarantined at Nazareth Hospital after testing positive for H1N1, was admitted on October 24 after developing symptoms of fever, weakness and headache.
She came to Shillong to attend a Catholic convention on October 18. Her condition is stable.
Health Secretary Pravin Bakshi said alert has already been sounded in all the hospitals.
Bakshi said the state has adequate Tamiflu tablets for treating H1N1.
“There were only two cases and we are operationally ready to tackle the situation,” Bakshi said.