Swine flu claims one more life in Tamil Nadu

Madurai: A 55-year-old woman succumbed to swine flu at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai on Tuesday taking the A (H1N1) virus toll in Tamil Nadu to three this month.

Kaliammal, who had been suffering from throat pain, cough and fever for the past few days, was admitted to the hospital on Monday, officials said.

This is first swine flu fatality in the southern districts. While a 70-year old farmer died early this month in Tirupur district in western Tamil Nadu, a 35-year old woman succumbed to the virus in Chennai yesterday.

Several suspected swine flu cases had been reported in the state mainly in Chennai, Coimbatore and Tirupur districts this month.

Several suspected swine flu cases had been reported in the state mainly in Chennai, Coimbatore and Tirupur districts this month.

Kaliammal had tested positive for H1N1 virus, doctors said adding she could have got the virus during her travel to Tirupati recently.

Officials said one more woman in the area where Kaliammal lived in the city had been affected by swine flu and had been admitted to the hospital for treatment.

A house-to-house inspection had been undertaken in the area to screen for other possible swine flu cases.

The state government had last week said it had put in place preventive measures to check the spread of A (H1N1) virus and asked people not to panic.

Sufficient drugs required against swine flu had been stocked in government hospitals and separate wards had been set up for those affected by the virus, it had said and advised those suffering from fever, cold and throat pain, the symptoms of A (H1N1), to immediately approach the nearest government hospital instead of any self-medication.

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