A 58-year-old Gujarat woman died due to flu-like symptoms at a state-run hospital in Vadodara city, confirmed an official on Tuesday. The sample has been sent for H3N2 testing and the review committee will determine the exact cause of the death.
According to D.K. Helaya, resident medical officer (RMO), SSG Hospital, the patient was shifted to Sir Sayajirao General (SSG) Hospital on March 11 from a private facility and she died on March 13.
“We have collected the required samples and sent them for testing. The review committee will determine the cause of the woman’s death,” the RMO told media persons.
Last week, state health minister Rushikesh Patel, while briefing on the health scenario in the state mentioned: “Till March 10 this year, a total of 80 cases of season flu were reported in Gujarat, of which 77 belong to the H1N1 type and three of H3N2 subtypes. Not a single death has been reported so far due to H3N2.”
The minister Patel earlier requested people to remain vigilant, adding that H1N1 subtype dominates the flu cases reported.
“However, as a precautionary measure, the government has implemented the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) to quickly identify an outbreak. All seasonal flu cases are being monitored on a detailed daily basis,” Patel said.
“Necessary medicines, PPE kits and N-95 masks, etc, have been issued to health centers and hospitals. In addition, healthcare workers have been asked to carry out surveys and provide necessary treatment as per the guidelines,” he added.
Symptoms of H3N2 influenza are similar to those of seasonal flu viruses and can include fever and respiratory symptoms such as cough and runny nose and possibly other symptoms including body ache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.
