Zirakpur woman tests positive for swine flu

Satinder Pal Singh

Zirakpur, July 23

The health authorities confirmed the first case of swine flu in Zirakpur where a 48-year-old woman, Sunita Rani, residing at Ekta Vihar in Baltana, near Zirakpur, tested positive for H1N1 virus here today.

The confirmation of the first swine flu case in Baltana, Zirakpur, has forced the Health Department to take pro-active measures to prevent the possible outbreak.

Rita Bhardwaj, Civil Surgeon, Mohali, told Chandigarh Tribune that the patient travelled to Rajasthan 10-15 days ago and chances were that she might have contracted the virus there. According to sources, Sunita Rani went for a general check-up on July 18 at a private clinic in Baltana with flu-like symptoms. On July 19, she got a high-grade fever and was taken to Alchemist Hospital in Panchkula. When her condition did not improve, the hospital staff suspected her to be suffering from swine flu.

The sources said her condition deteriorated on July 21 when she complained of breathlessness and she was admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh, where the hospital authorities, after examining the patient, informed the Health Department about the case as soon as they got the swine flu test report.

She was first taken to a physician in Baltana and then to Alchemist Hospital before being admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh, on July 21.The Civil Surgeon said the patient had started getting symptoms from July 18 and got admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh, on July 21 where her sputum samples were sent for testing.

She said the test report of her throat swab from the PGI, which became available on Sunday evening, had confirmed the H1N1 infection.

Sunita had reported fever and sore throat symptoms after coming back from Rajasthan. She is already a diabetic patient, said one of her family members.

Health officials said there were no reports throughout the city of any other patient with symptoms of the influenza, adding that Tamiflu, the medicine for the flu, had been given to the patient, his family members and the treating doctors as a preventive step.

The patient had also been moved to an isolation ward to check the spread of the virus, the officials said.Rita Bhardwaj, Civil Surgeon, Mohali, said teams had been asked to sensitise people to the virus in Baltana. A separate ventilator was made available for isolation of suspected patients and medical specialists were ready with the required medication and equipment to tackle any case.

Tamiflu given to patient, kin

Health officials said there were no reports throughout the city of any other patient with symptoms of the influenza, adding that Tamiflu, the medicine for the flu, had been given to the patient, his family members and the treating doctors as a preventive step.

Patient travelled to Rajasthan, Nada Sahib Gurdwara recently

Rita Bhardwaj, Civil Surgeon, Mohali, told Chandigarh Tribune that the patient travelled to Rajasthan around 10-15 days ago and chances were that she might have contracted the virus there. Rita said the woman had also travelled to Nada Sahib Gurdwara recently.

Symptoms

Headache, chills, cough, fever, loss of appetite, aches, fatigue, running nose, sneezing, watery eyes, throat irritation, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea. In people with chronic conditions, pneumonia may develop.

Precautions

• Get a regular seasonal flu vaccination
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and hot running water
• If hot water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand gel
• Cover your nose while coughing and sneezing and wash hands afterwards.

Cure

• Tamiflu, on oral medicine, cures swine flu.