Chennai boy becomes latest swine flu casualty

The four-year-old Chennai boy, who was struggling for his life after a multiple organ failure and also tested positive for swine flu, finally succumbed to his diseases at a private hospital here on Monday morning.


Sanjay Balakrishnan was admitted to the hospital when he suffered kidney failure early last week. He was already a chronic asthma patient, said doctors. While at the hospital, his condition worsened, and was put on a ventilator and dialysis unit by doctors at Mehta Hospital in Chennai.


When he showed signs of the flu, samples were sent for testing to the Kings Institute which returned positive on Saturday. His health fell rapidly leading to a multiple organ failure including his kidneys and liver on Sunday.


The child died today morning, though it is not yet clear if the virus caused his death.

His is an atypical case, as the boy was already in a critical condition when he was found infected with A (H1N1) virus. However, he had not travelled anywhere outside the city, said authorities.

According to sources, Sanjay’s 11-year-old elder brother and two of their neighbours in the apartment complex have also been tested positive. The Public Health authorities have sanitised the complex in suburban Velachery where the boy’s family resided