First swine flu death in Assam

GUWAHATI - A 21-year-old college student Sunday died of swine flu, the first fatality to the deadly H1N1 virus in Assam, an official said.

A health department spokesperson said the girl student, Shikha Biswas, was declared dead early Sunday by doctors at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

“She was at the hospital for the past 13 days after she tested H1N1 positive. Her condition deteriorated suddenly and she died early Sunday,” a doctor at the medical college said.

Shikha was a college student in Jagiroad, 56 km east of here.

More than 70 people tested H1N1 positive in Assam during the past four months, although the number of people currently battling with the virus is just five.

“There is no need for panic as health authorities are on full alert and adequate steps were being taken to fight the virus,” a health department official said.