Chennai boy dies of swine flu, CM calls review meeting

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi summoned a high-level meeting to check the spread of the disease in the state on Monday.

The meeting was called after a four-year-old boy died of influenza A (H1N1) virus at a private hospital in Chennai on Monday becoming the first swine flu victim in the state and the sixth in the country.

"A high level meeting of state health officials will be held tomorrow (Tuesday) to chalk out strategies to contain the spread of swine flu. The meeting would also discuss setting up a monitoring committee and other issues like availability of test kits," Karunanidhi told reporters.

Meanwhile, the state health department has decided to conduct massive screening of city school students for swine flu symptoms. A team of 700 medical professionals has fanned out to different city schools for the purpose.

The Municipal Corporation of Chennai also has set up four camps in the city to test people for swine flu.

The boy died around 0835 hrs IST at the Mehta Children's Hospital.

"The boy was first admitted to another city hospital with severe diarrhoea and renal problem on Thursday. He also had fever. We were called for consultation the same day and the boy was transferred to our hospital that evening," paediatrician and paediatric nephrologist at Mehta Children's Hospital, N Prahlad told reporters.

The boy was put on a ventilator since his heart beat was very slow and he had respiratory problems. He also suffered kidney and liver failure and had to be put on dialysis.

According to Prahlad, swine flu was suspected on Saturday. The boy's nasal and throat swabs were sent to the King's Research Institute in Chennai. The samples tested positive and within 45 minutes the child was administered Tamiflu.

On Sunday, the boy's blood pressure fell and he suffered multiple organ failure.

"The symptoms shown by the child were not those of swine flu. Failure of organs depends on the immunity of a person. If the immune system is weak, the organs will fail," said Shanmugasundaram, another doctor at Mehta Children's Hospital.

"The cause of death will have to be investigated as the boy was suffering from asthma and several of his vital organs failed," director of public health and preventive medicine department, S Illango said.

He added that the body will soon be handed over to the family for the last rites.

"The deceased boy's brother is admitted in the Communicable Diseases Hospital and is free from complications. Other members of the family have tested negative," said the municipal health officer, P Kuganathan.

He said that 138 people in the city were tested for swine flu and 45 were positive. Of them, 31 were treated and discharged.

According to a Central Government health official, 42 people have tested swine flu positive in Tamil Nadu but no case has been reported in nearby Puducherry.

"We are taking all preventive steps like creating awareness. All hospitals will be given Tamiflu tablets. Preventive medication is being given to the people who came in close contact with the boy who died in the morning," he said.

Meanwhile, two people in Tiruchirapalli and five in Coimbatore have been admitted in government hospital with swine flu symptoms.