According to doctors, Ravikumar was admitted with multiple complications and comorbidities, and his death was not only due to swine flu.
According to the National Centre for Disease Control’s (NCDC) Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, 893 swine flu cases and 3 deaths were reported in the state between 1 January and 31 July 2023. (Wikimedia Commons)
On Sunday, 3 September, Tamil Nadu registered its fourth swine flu death in 2023 after a 44-year-old shopkeeper in Vaniyambadi, Tirupathur district, died after contracting the H1N1 influenza virus.
Identified as S Ravikumar,a resident of Pillayar Koil Street in Vaniyambadi town, was being treated at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) in Chennai.
According to doctors, Ravikumar was admitted with multiple complications and comorbidities, and his death was not only due to swine flu.
According to E Theranirajan, Dean of RGGGH, Ravikumar was admitted to a private hospital for eight days before being moved to the RGGGH. “He was suffering from cryptogenic liver disease. Such patients have a poor immune system. When he was admitted, a swab test was done to check for whether the patient had viral pneumonia. The test came back positive for the H1N1 virus,” the Dean said.
The Dean also clarified that there is no outbreak of swine flu and this particular patient was admitted to RGGGH on 31 August. “He was on ventilator support during his treatment at the private hospital. The patient was referred here after he developed more complications,” he stated.
Health Department officials maintained that preventive measures are being undertaken. According to them, nearly 5,000 oseltamivir phosphate tablets (Tamiflu) are being distributed in the Vaniyambadi town area. The screening was also done for the deceased’s family, relatives, and neighbours.
Vaniyambadi Municipal Commissioner B Sathishkumar stated that the deceased’s body was buried in a ten-feet-deep trench, following all protocols.
The commissioner also refuted claims that orders were given to close the shops in the area. He advised people to wear masks. He also stated that arrangements were made to conduct special medical camps on behalf of the municipality, in coordination with the medical department.
Further, the municipality has disinfected important junctions in Vaniyambadi, including the bazaar area, bus stand, and government office complexes.
According to the National Centre for Disease Control’s (NCDC) Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, 893 swine flu cases and three deaths were reported in the state between 1 January and 31 July 2023.
In 2022, Tamil Nadu was the second largest state, in terms of the number of people infected with the H1N1 virus. 2,827 cases with 25 deaths were reported that year.
In Tamil Nadu, a total of 25 laboratories — nine government labs and 16 private labs — were designated to test clinical samples of H1N1 influenza virus.
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