Swine flu case in city

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 22

The Health Department has reported a swine flu positive case in the district. Officials said the 45-year-old woman patient from a village in Mannawala block was undergoing treatment at a private hospital. She stated that the condition of the patient was improving.

Earlier, local hospitals had reported death of three suspected swine flu patients, including two pregnant women. The third patient was a 60-year-old woman from Kot Khasla. Now, health officials have said that the swine flu tests of all the three patients, who died reportedly of dengue, are negative. Officials said that till date, the department had collected samples of eight suspected patients of dengue for swine flu tests.

Dr Navdeep Kaur, nodal officer, swine flu control, said, “Of eight samples, one has tested positive and the reports of three are yet to be received.” She said that four samples turned out to be negative.s

The official stated that health of the swine flu patient was improving.

Civil Surgeon Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai said, “The deaths of the pregnant women will be reviewed by the district committee. The negative reports have confirmed that they didn’t suffer from swine flu.”

The civil surgeon said that as per protocol, members of the swine flu patient’s family and others who had contact with her during the last few days, are being given medicines as a precautionary measure. He said the department was keeping a vigil on the scenario.

“Residents should not panic. They should take ample precautions. One should avoid going to crowded places. Mouth should be covered while going out,” he said, adding that swine flu symptoms are same as that of other flu, but more severe.