NEW DELHI, June 22 (Xinhua) -- A 41-year-old man has died of swine flu (H1N1) at a health facility in India's southwestern state of Karnataka, local media reports said Monday.
The man died on Sunday evening while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Mangaluru of Dakshina Kannada district, about 345 km west of Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka.
Tests conducted at the Mangaluru hospital confirmed that he had swine flu, a local newspaper quoted a health officer as saying.
Health officials have initiated surveillance among close family members and contacts to identify potential infections and limit transmission.
Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by a strain of the influenza type A virus, H1N1. The virus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes in close proximity to others. Like seasonal influenza, it can spread rapidly in crowded settings such as schools, offices, public transport systems, and healthcare facilities.
Health experts say it can pose a significant threat to older adults, pregnant women, young children, people with chronic diseases, and those with weakened immune systems. ■
