With one more patient succumbing to Swine flu on Tuesday, the toll of H1 N1 virus in the State Capital has mounted up to seven. The chief medical officer (CMO) of Dehradun, Dr S K Gupta told The Pioneer that a 51-year-old female patient, a resident of Mokampur in Dehradun, had died due to the dreaded disease at Mahant Indiresh Hospital on Tuesday.

He further informed that three patients, one each at Mahant Indiresh, Max Hospital and Synergy Hospital, are undergoing treatment at present for the disease.

The CMO said that all the medical professionals have been asked to keep track on the suspected cases of the disease and inform to the district health department promtly.

He added that all the hospitals have adequate supply of Tami flu (medicine of swine flu) and triple layer masks. “Since the disease spreads by droplet infection, the people should cover their nose and face with handkerchief while sneezing or coughing and should regularly wash hands and face,” he said.

Dr Gupta said that one should immediately consult a doctor in case of consistent fever and breathlessness.

Interestingly, six of the seven patients who have so far succumbed to the disease were undergoing treatment at Mahant Indiresh Hospital. An alarmed health department sent CMO, Dehradun to the hospital for overseeing the process being followed in treatment of Swine flu patients there.

Swine flu is a viral disease and its virus is called H1 N1.  Its genetic analysis has shown that it originates from the animals, especially pigs and hence it is called Swine flu.