Swine flu: NRI dies in Ahmedabad

Forty three-year-old NRI Pravin Patel became Gujarat's first H1N1 victim. He and his wife Nainaben landed in Ahmedabad on July 31for a family reunion.

Two days later, the couple developed a mild fever. Their conditioned worsened and were moved to a private hospital.

But Pravin's fever refused to subside. His samples were sent to the Government Civil Hospital where he was tested positive for swine flu.

The couple was shifted to the Civil Hospital after they tested positive and started on Tamiflu. Nainaben began recovering, but Pravin's condition worsened.

He died six days after he first developed the symptoms.

"When he was admitted to the civil hospital his haemoglobin level was low, the blood oxygen level was also low and he had some pneumonic complications as well. All these added on and worsened his condition," said Gujarat Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas.

The government insists that all preventive measures have been put into place and there is no need to panic. Health authorities have started scanning those live in the society where Pravin stayed.

"There is no panic. The teams from corporation have come surveyed the area, so I don't think there is any chance of spread here," said Natwarbhai, a resident.

To speed up the identification process, samples are now being sent to Ahmedabad's B J Medical College for testing. All this is part of the attempt to control the spread of the deadly virus.