Two-year-old boy from Sec 35 a suspected bird flu patient

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 22

A two-year-old boy from Sector 35 was referred to the bird flu clinic at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, while eight individuals walked into the OPD flu area voluntarily suspecting flu symptoms today. A total of 5,200 houses were surveyed in areas falling within a 3-km radius of Sukhna Lake for assessing the transmission of the H5N1 virus among humans.

The two-year-old was referred from the paediatric OPD of the GMSH after doctors suspected symptoms in him. His parents informed that they had taken him to the lake last week. No suspected cases were found among those surveyed or those who walked in voluntarily.

The throat swab of the two-year-old was taken and he was admitted. However, his parents left the hospital against medical advice. The sample has been sent to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi. The reports are expected within four days, according to officials.

The earlier three suspected patients, who were admitted to city hospitals on Sunday (two to the GMSH-16 and one to the GMCH-32), were discharged today after their throat and nasal swabs tested negative for bird flu.

“We were telephonically informed by officials from the NCDC today that the samples of these patients showed no signs of bird flu and we discharged them. Their detailed reports will be received in two to three days,” said the Director (Health Services), UT, Dr VK Gagneja.

These three patients a 20-year-old woman from Sector 10, a boatman and another man from Sector 33. Besides, 51 students and two teachers from a government school in Sector 33 were surveyed for assessment of the virus transmission in view of their visit to the lake last week for a painting competition.

“None of the students or teachers was found with any history of exposure to geese or symptoms of flu,” Dr Gagneja said. The sample of the first suspected patient of bird flu, reported on December 19 at the General Hospital, Panchkula, was sent to the NCDC today.

The survey was conducted by a team of multi-purpose health workers in Kishangarh and Bhagwanpura. In the past three days, 3,000 houses were surveyed while 5,200 houses were visited by the team today.

PGI to test samples; reports to be tallied with NCDC

The PGI will test the samples of the suspected cases and the reports of the first 15 cases will be tallied with those of the NCDC before authenticating the PGI lab.

The UT Director (Health Services), Dr VK Gagneja, said, starting Tuesday, two samples of each suspected patient will be obtained. While one will be sent to the PGI, the other will be sent to NCDC and the reports will be cross-checked. If authenticated, the PGI will be empowered to conduct all suspected tests independently.
PGI asked to send 4 doctors to run 24-hour helpline
A meeting of Health Department officials from Panchkula, Mohali and Chandigarh was convened by  the Director (Health Services), UT, Dr VK Gagneja, today to discuss the future course of action in view of suspected cases of flu among humans landing up every day. The meeting was also attended by officials from the UT Animal Husbandry Department. Following the meeting, the Director, Health Services, wrote to the PGI Director to send four doctors from the Community Medicine Department to run a 24-hour helpline at the GMSH-16 on bird flu.
It was also decided that all suspected cases from Panchkula, Mohali and Chandigarh will be first screened at the GMSH.