74-year-old man succumbs to swine flu in Indore

A 74-year-old man succumbed to swine flu here, taking the toll from the disease to 34 since January 1 in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh, a health department official said Thursday.

The elderly man was undergoing treatment for swine flu at a local private hospital and died Wednesday evening, he said.

As many as 132 patients had tested positive for swine flu (H1N1) since January 1, the official said, adding of them 34 died here during treatment.

Of the deceased, 18 hailed from Indore, while the rest were from other districts, he added.

Swine flu is a viral, air-borne disease that spreads from person-to-person, through large droplets generated via coughing and sneezing, indirect contact by touching a contaminated object or surface (fomite transmission like telephone, cellphones, computers, door handles, door bells, pens, toys) and close contact (including hand shaking, hugging).

Its main symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, difficulty in breathing. Other symptoms may include body ache, headache, fatigue, chills, diarrhoea and vomiting and blood-stained sputum. There are three categories of H1N1 influenza -- A, B and C.