A child reportedly died of swine flu as the deadly global pandemic virus claimed a second victim in Bangladesh, government authorities confirmed on Thursday.
Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Director Prof Mahmudur Rahman revealed the second casualty from the H1N1 virus at a press briefing.
"A three-month child died from swine-flu infection Thursday. It is the second laboratory-confirmed death from swine flu in the country," he said.
The physician further disclosed that the number of patients now stood at 311 following the detection of 36 new cases of the viral disease since last Friday.
The child was admitted to a hospital with swine flu along with some congenital complications from outside Dhaka last month. "The critical condition of the baby remained unchanged in the hospital and then she was kept in home confinement," said Mahmudur Rahman.
The government earlier confirmed the first death from the H1N1 virus after 37-year-old Mitali Chakrabarty died at Labaid Hospital on August 30.
But the sample of another suspected victim identified as Sobhan alias Sagar, 20, who died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, was not tested in the laboratory.
However, Mahmudur Rahman said, "We are not officially confirmed that Sobhan was infected with swine flu. We only report the confirmed death from swine flu as per the guideline of the World Health Organisation."
The first case of swine flu in the country was detected on June 18, after the scourge erupted in Mexico in April and then spread out.
He said the trend of pandemic swine flu is now at the peak, but it might take a downturn within a week as per experience of other swine-flu-affected countries.
But, Mahmudur Rahman apprehended that the virus might spread out on a large scale in the rural areas during the ensuing Eid-ul-Fitr as millions of people will go to their village homes to observe the religious festival.
He said as people panicked, the step for making the flu medicine available had been taken.
"But 98 to 99 percent swine-flu patients get well automatically," he said, adding that pregnant mother or people suffering from asthma, diabetes and kidney or heart diseases should take medicine prescribed by the physicians.
Prof Mahmudur Rahman suggested that only those patients who are in severe condition with respiratory problems should get themselves admitted into hospital.
Source: nation.ittefaq.com
