TEAM HERALD
SANGUEM: Swine flu claimed a second life in the State, when a 79-year-old man from Costi in Kalay-Sanguem is reported to have died from the dreaded disease on Monday night, triggering panic in the entire Kalay village and surrounding areas of Sanguem taluka.
Speaking to Herald on condition of anonymity, a resident from Costi said the victim had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Margao for a number of days.
“Nobody in the village knew that he was suffering from swine flu till a team of doctors from the Sanguem Government Primary Health Centre visited Kalay shortly after family members performed the final rites of the deceased on Tuesday afternoon,” the resident said.
“A team of doctors, led by Sanguem PHC Health Officer Dr Uday Kakodkar, visited the village and appealed to villagers to take precautions, on account of the death of a local due to the dreaded disease,” the resident added.
News that the man had died due to swine flu sparked off alarm in the village, which is located some 10 kilometres from Sanguem town.
When contacted, Dr Kakodkar, who led the medical team to the village, confirmed that the 79-year-old man from Costi-Kalay had died due to swine flu.
“We advised the villagers to take all precautionary measures and even suggested that people move in the locality with their faces covered with masks,” Dr Kakodkar said.
“The medical team also visited the nearby Anganwadi and primary schools to take stock of the situation and we urged teachers to instruct students on the necessary precautionary measures. We also put up posters in Kalay village and in schools across Sanguem town in this connection.”
“Family members of the deceased had taken all precautionary measures as was otherwise required, while performing final rites on the dead person. The awareness drive to check the spread of the disease in the village will be continued on March 19,” Dr Kakodkar added.
