Pune housewife, kid triumph over H1N1

MUMBAI: A frail housewife from Pune could well be the Maharashtra government's poster-girl against swine flu. Twenty-year-old Sapana Patil, who was near full-term pregnancy when she contracted swine flu, has not only delivered a healthy baby, but has also recovered. "Both the mother and child are fine. Timely administration of Tamiflu saved her and her child,'' said additional chief secretary Sharwaree Gokhale.Three pregnant women died in Mumbai reportedly because they were not given the medicine on time.
Overjoyed with Patil's case, Mantralaya is all set to project her as the symbol of triumph against the dreaded virus. "We will take Patil's clippings and photographs for a campaign to create awareness about swine flu,'' Gokhale said.
Patil was on her way to her parents place in Dhule when she contracted H1N1. Immediately, she rushed back to her in laws in Pune and got her self admitted to the Naidu Hospital in Pune. "Timely admission to the hospital worked for Patil. Not only Patil, but in most of the swine flu cases those who have been administered Tamilfu within 36 hours of infection have recovered,'' Gokhale said.
Of the total 91 swine flu deaths in the state, more than 95% of the victims were given Tamiflu 36 hours after they got the infection, the health department said. "In most death cases, either the patient neglected the symptoms or went to a general practitioner or to private hospital before getting admitted to government hospitals,'' Gokhale said. "To create more public awareness and make citizens understand the importance of getting proper help on time, the health department now plans to rope in Patil for the drive.'' However, the department fears that Patil may refuse to play along. "If Patil, scared of what people may say, does not agree to take part in the drive, we will think of someone else,'' Gokhale said.
In another development, the state is looking to take Tamiflu off the list of schedule `X' category of drug. "Once it is delisted, the drug will be available at chemist shops. This will help in saving many lives,'' said a senior government official. Even the health department officials have brought to notice of the Centre that Tamiflu was not a scheduled drug in foreign countries. "The demand of the drug may encourage hoarders and fearing that, the Union government is reluctant to delist it,'' he further said.