2 more swine flu cases reported at GMSH-16

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 21

A day after the death of 42-year-old swine flu patient Sham Verma, two more confirmed cases of swine flu were reported at the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, here, today. Both patients are women and they are admitted to the hospital. One of the patients is from Mohali while the other is from Sector 35, Chandigarh.

In the wake of the rising swine flu incidents, the GMSH-16 authorities have dedicated an entire ward in the emergency for the suspected swine flu patients.

Dr Gaurav Aggarwal, nodal officer of the Heath Department, said: “All field units have been put on alert and directions have been issued to intensify field surveillance for influenza. There are reports of people getting panicky and rushing to hospital due to common cold. However, we are keeping a close watch on the situation.”

In the meantime, PGI doctors said in order to avoid the spreading of virus, the body of the deceased, who succumbed to the virus on Thursday, was sealed in a body bag and handed over to the family.

The family members and relatives had to undergo a counselling session before handing over the body and if anyone in the family feels symptoms of swine flu then they had been advised to rush to the hospital.

“Even today, we have told the family to avoid taking the body home for rituals like bathing. It should be taken straight to crematorium for performing the last rites. The H1N1 virus remains in the body for some time. What generally happens that the family takes the body home for performing the last rites and comes in contact with the virus. In the present case as well, we have specifically cautioned the family members while handing over the body,” said the doctor of the PGI requesting anonymity.

The current protocol issued by the Health Department also includes specific guidelines regarding how the bodies should be burnt or buried.

“The body has to be cremated with care in order to prevent further contamination and spread of the disease. Earlier as a protocol, the hospital staff, along with employees from the Municipal Corporation, cremated the bodies, taking all required precautions, which included wearing complete bodysuits,” said the Health Department official.