Mumbai, August 23: While reiterating that the government has done its best and admitting that the swine flu wave is not under control yet, the state government put the onus onpatients by telling them to ensure that they take enough precautions in the primary stage of the flu.
Confirming that both the patients who died in Mumbai on Friday had completed the Tamiflu course, the government has claimed that the two delayed in approaching government hospitals.
Additional chief secretary Sharvaree Gokhale said that the 12-year old girl, who died on Friday, was treated at a private hospital for 6 days before coming to Kasturba hospital. “Even the 37-year old women, who died on August 19, had been taking treatment at the private hospital even after her swab was taken at Kasturba on August 11. The patients should realise their responsibility in approaching government hospitals at the primary stage of the flu,” she said.
When asked about deaths despite the completion of the Tamiflu course, Gokhale said that the two-month old girl had cough, cold and fever for 15 days before she was admitted to the hospital. The other two victims had their own problems. “The 12-year girl had a low count of platelets, while the 37-year old woman opted for treatment in a private hospital,” she added.
–Agencies