India reports first swine flu death

India reported its first swine flu death on Monday when a 14-year-old girl succumbed to the influenza A (H1N1) virus in Pune, health officials said here.

The girl, who tested positive for swine flu, was put on the ventilator after her condition worsened. She died on Monday.

The girl had consulted a general practitioner when she first reported flu-like symptoms - sore throat, runny nose, headache - on July 21. When her condition improved, she joined school on July 23.

"She again developed fever on July 25, for which she consulted another private practitioner. Her fever continued and she was admitted to a private nursing home in Pune July 27," according to a health ministry statement issued here.

It said the girl's condition worsened and she was shifted to the ICU and put on the ventilator on July 29. "The patient's lung aspirate was sent to the NIV (National Institute of Virology) on July 31 and was tested positive for swine flu A."

She was put on Oseltamivir or Tamiflu on July 30. "Her condition deteriorated again with multi-system involvement and she expired on the evening of August 3," the statement said.

The health ministry said the hospital staff, including three doctors and a nurse, who had treated the girl and had developed respiratory symptoms were being treated with Oseltamivir.

"About 85 other hospital contacts have been put on prophylaxis, while 31 contacts, including 11 family contacts, have also been put on chemoprophylaxis," it added.