Indian-origin doctor dies of swine flu in S Africa

DURBAN: An Indian-origin doctor in South Africa has become the first health worker in the country to succumb to the swine flu virus.


Dr Irshad Moola from KwaDukuza, about 50km north of Durban, died of the H1N1 pandemic that currently has 11,253 official cases countrywide.

His father, Farouk Moola, said his son had flu symptoms and was admitted to hospital after he developed breathing problems.

The health ministry has confirmed Moola's death as the fifth caused by H1N1 in the KwaZulu-Natal province, home to about 70% of the 1.2 million South African Indians.

A close friend of Moola, also a medical practitioner, who asked not to be identified, told that the doctor had been committed to assisting people from the rural areas surrounding his birthplace, and had sacrificed his life in the process.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases said in its latest report that 47 South Africans had died of H1N1 so far, with 11,253 recorded incidents so far.