Summary:
PUNE: An eight-year-old girl from Dhayari succumbed to swine flu infection at a city hospital on Tuesday, becoming the first H1N1 casualty in the state this year so far.“The girl had tested positive for swine flu. However, NIV scientists have been seeing only the Michigan strain of the swine flu virus this year. “The new strain of the virus is sensitive to oseltamivir drug, popularly known as Tamiflu or Fluvir medicines,” an NIV scientist said.Asked if the Michigan strain was responsible for more outbreaks and deaths, the scientist said, “The molecular markers of virulence do not indicate that this strain (Michigan strain) is more virulent than the California one. She succumbed to swine flu-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) around 12.55pm on January 8,” a doctor from Ruby Hall Clinic, where the girl was undergoing treatment, said.The girl had developed influenza-like illness on December 31 last year. The experts said the new strain could be behind the increase in cases and mortality, but it is yet to be proved scientifically..