Two more flu deaths in Bangalore, nationwide toll mounts to 27

Besides Pune and Bangalore, one person each has died due to the viral disease in Ahmedabad, Nashik, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Raipur and Bilapur and two each in Mumbai and Vadodara

Bangalore: Two women, both aged 27, have succumbed to swine flu in this IT hub, raising the toll here due to the virus to five and across the country to 27.

With this, Bangalore accounts for the second largest number of flu deaths after Pune, where the toll is 12.

Besides Pune and Bangalore, one person each has died due to the viral disease in Ahmedabad, Nashik, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Raipur and Bilapur and two each in Mumbai and Vadodara.

Shamshad Begum and Shilpa Hegde fell prey to the infection at different hospitals here last night, health officials said today. Their test reports confirmed swine flu virus, they said.

Admitted to Baptist Hospital on 10 August, Begum was suffering from shortness of breath for the past three months and from cough and cold and fever lately, Medical Superintendent Chandy Abraham said.

She was diagnosed as a patient with cardiovascular problem and signs of early pneumonia but she later showed symptoms of A(H1N1) influenza and her throat swab tested positive last night, Abraham and a health official said.

Begum, who was in the ICU, showed signs of improvement initially but her condition deteriorated in the last three days, Abraham said.