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Swine-flu death shocks family
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Swine flu Q&A WHO update page Toronto Public Health info Ontario Ministry of Health Public Health Agency of Canada updates Centers for Disease Control updates Ont. workplace law and quarantine Twitter: #swineflu Map of swine flu cases The EU on swine flu 'Very healthy' Scarborough man, 44, was diabetic, but relatives say his condition was under control
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May 27, 2009 04:30 AM * }$ h7 _5 m3 a9 [2 R" A
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Theresa Boyle
/ K& L7 S3 O" `% x, RHEALTH REPORTER
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* `4 ~. X. [6 [: i( YFriends and family of a Scarborough man who was confirmed to have swine flu after his sudden death Saturday are in shock, saying the 44-year-old father of two was healthy except for diabetes and a recent cough.
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"He was very healthy. That's why we are surprised," a family friend, who gave his name only as Mohan, said yesterday.
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1 i( a, z2 W# \* H- z5 d! \Ravinjan Paramsothy died at his Scarborough apartment at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday. It is not known if the virus even contributed to his death. An autopsy has been conducted and results are pending. " Q' w& s; {$ U; Q
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Paramsothy sought treatment for a persistent cough earlier in the week from a family doctor who gave him medication, Mohan said. % K/ C( ?1 x1 B2 x Q" q
" z/ k( C& ^( bHe took time off work but returned to his job Friday after feeling better. But by the end of the workday, he was again feeling ill, according to a source. He returned home and his condition seemed to improve by the time he went to bed.& ~7 w$ O1 ?( \( }+ i8 f
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But just before 1:30 a.m. "he started coughing and couldn't stop and that was it," the source said.5 A6 g( R6 B4 a2 @ D, d6 J7 Z
. f$ S8 B, P, i4 x: PA family member called 911, but paramedics were unable to resuscitate him.
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It wasn't until after he had died that he was tested for and confirmed to have the H1N1 flu virus, contrary to earlier reports that indicated he had been swabbed for the virus prior to his death.( q* H; i/ e" }% a& Z6 |
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Yesterday, stunned relatives and friends gathered at the family's apartment in the Markham Rd.-Eglinton Ave. E. area.6 }9 U* K' \( |0 P/ M
& T) ~, G- p+ n9 t4 k+ w' O0 W"His diabetes wasn't a big deal. Sometimes his blood sugars went up or down, but he was on medication," Mohan said, adding that Paramsothy appeared to be managing the condition.
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He leaves his wife, a 10-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter.
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, a9 H" H9 j4 P* }+ v" lA framed photo of Paramsothy was placed in a corner of the apartment with a candle and two bouquets of flowers. 2 |% J0 }; z4 c% Y) Y* l, r
$ n% t# o' h j q+ v+ h9 r' b2 W/ IParamsothy is listed on the Internet as working for Travelencia, a company that provides consumer benefit programs around the world.6 v1 `2 E; r) m" r# w
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It is not known where Paramsothy contracted the virus., E* g& B0 ^' g5 @7 T1 V$ k
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Visitation took place last night at the Ogden Funeral Home on Sheppard Ave. E. Paramsothy is to be buried today.
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Anne Marie Aikins, a spokeswoman for Toronto Public Health, is prohibited from speaking about the case because of patient confidentiality. But she said people with chronic medical conditions can have a tougher time handling influenza. These include people with diabetes, cardiovascular-pulmonary conditions, renal conditions, those on immunosuppressant drugs and pregnant women.# o! i$ n7 |. n; J- c, G1 u" {
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"When they get influenza of any type, there is a higher risk of it becoming a more serious illness. The serious illness can then cause complications," Aikins explained. One complication could be pneumonia.
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Paramsothy is the second Canadian with the H1N1 virus to have died. A 39-year-old woman from Alberta, who had a history of asthma and diabetes, died on April 28. An autopsy failed to show whether the virus was a factor in her death.4 J& W; x" g8 `5 I: C
; \5 A. C$ b) l7 uDiabetes is known as a "silent killer" and it is possible for those who have it to also have undiagnosed problems such as hardening of the arteries and poor blood circulation.. v, k6 z" x4 E8 R6 c8 g- d$ |' J
1 N6 f5 Y& c) |8 X% _; D8 y4 fThe latest information from the province shows that 371 Ontarians have tested positive for the H1N1 virus, up from 352 the day before. Most of those infected are from the Greater Toronto area.1 G( y& s, P2 b v6 f3 \5 }
( ?$ ~5 [3 M3 Z+ m; dWhile most cases have so far been mild, there are now five people in Toronto hospitals whose conditions are more serious. They include three youngsters at the Hospital for Sick Children, a 60-year-old man with congestive heart failure in Toronto Western Hospital whose condition is deteriorating and another adult. 7 T( t) @- D; b& ]- d p
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Symptoms of the virus are similar to seasonal influenza and include headache, chills and coughing.
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' a7 ]) R2 X" C/ e7 AAccording to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the H1N1 outbreak is expected to become more severe. Health officials are concerned about a second wave of the virus in the fall and about the possibility of it mutating. . J6 |# P' n7 K; l. e% @
' m" J8 `* |4 W/ P$ NThe WHO is calling for the H1N1 strain to be watched closely in the southern hemisphere where winter is beginning. A vaccine is expected in late June or early July. |
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