UT Forest employee hospitalised

Hina Rohtaki

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, December 20

An employee of the UT Forest and Wildlife Department, involved in the culling exercise at the Sukhna Lake, was admitted at the General Hospital, Sector 6, after he complained of body ache today.

Shreepal (50), a resident of Saketri, has been kept in the isolation ward of the hospital.

Even as he has been kept under observation as a precautionary move, doctors say it would be early to call him a ‘suspected case of bird flu.’

Asked if Shreepal had any symptoms of bird flu, Panchkula Chief Medical Officer , VK Bansal, said, “We are conducting the regular exercise of quarantining those involved in the culling exercise and are residents of Panchkula. Shreepal complained of body ache. He is under observation.”

He added, “I will categorically deny using the word ‘suspected bird flu’ for him. We’ve administered Tamiflu as a precautionary measure.”

Panchkula DC Vivek Atray said, “The doctors told me that the patient complained of body ache. He has been kept under observation.”

Shreepal’s son Brijesh said, “Three days ago, my father had gone to the lake and was involved in the culling exercise. He complained of severe body ache and we got him admitted to the hospital.”

Vinod Gagneja, Director Health Services, Chandigarh, said, “The symptoms exhibited by the patient don’t fall under guidelines of the World Health Organisation. But we are coordinating with the DG Health, Haryana. The symptoms are of common flu.”