A 46-year-old man succumbed to the deadly H1N1 flu at the government hospital in Palani in this district of Tamil Nadu, Health officials said on October 16.

The deceased was identified as a resident of Vilvanathanpatti village near Palani town. He took treatment in nearby clinics for high fever and cold before being admitted to a multi-specialty hospital in Coimbatore, where he was tested positive for swine flu and was also suffering from some other complications. However, the man opted for discharge from the hospital against medical advice as he could not afford the treatment.

He was admitted to the government hospital at Palani with high fever and severe respiratory problem last evening. However, he failed to respond to the treatment and died in the hospital on October 15 evening. It is the first swine flu death reported in South Tamil Nadu this season, while three more patients who tested positive for swine flu were undergoing treatment at the isolation wards of different private hospitals in the Central district of Tiruchirapalli.

Health officials stepped up vigil across the State in the wake of swine flu death and reports of three more flu cases in Tiruchirapalli. Dr S Somasundaram, Deputy Director of Health Services, Palani said a medical team has been deputed to Vilvanathanpatti village to screen the people and to take preventive measures.

The officials asked the people not to panic as they were taking preventive measures on a war-footing. The health department procured adequate stock of Tamiflu medicines and the medicines were distributed to all the government hospitals and primary health centres, official sources said.