Doctor contracts swine flu

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 25

Dr RG Sood, Head of Department of Radiology, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC), has been admitted to the ICU for swine flu.

Even as disease surveillance officials today claimed that he did not acquired H1N1 infections in the hospital, resident doctors and health officials have expressed concern over the spread of the virus in summer.

The Union Health Ministry has made no effort to isolate the H1NI strain that has spread in the country in summer, considering that many patients reportedly have died due to the swine flu in many states, revealed health officials here.

There was only one lab in the country, National Institute of Virology, Pune, where the new H1N1 strain could be isolated, they said. “We do not know why swine flu is spreading in summer months as it is flu that flourish in cold temperature,” they added.

Dr Sood was rushed to the ICU after his condition deteriorated yesterday and was tested positive for the swine flu. “Dr Sood has shown sign of the improvement today,” said Dr Ramesh Chand, senior medical superintendent, IGMC.

Though the Radiology Department did not deal with the swine flu cases directly, the case of Dr Sood had sounded alert in the IGMC, underscoring the need for doctors and nurses to wear masks and protective gears while screening the suspected patients. As many as four patients - one each from Sirmaur and Shimla and two from Kangra - have died due to swine flu this year.

Out of 205 patients, 26 patients have tested positive - 13 in IGMC, rest in Kangra and Mandi - for the swine flu till June 23 this year, for which the report is available with the Health Department.

“We have already issued guidelines for the doctors screening the patients suffering from cold and viral fever and flu in all hospitals,” said Dr Rakesh Bhardwaj, state programme officer. “It is unlikely that Dr Sood acquired infection from the hospital, yet we are examining other factors as well,” he said.