Swine flu threat looms large over city

Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Patiala, October 15

The District Health Department, which is battling with the spreading dengue, is now facing threat of swine flu (H1N1 influenza), another deadly disease. 

The District Health Department has recorded sixth suspected case of swine flu in the city. Coincidentally, all the suspected and positive cases of swine flu in Punjab have been reported in Patiala, the home district of Health and Family Welfare Minister Brahm Mohindra.

In fact, the first positive case of swine flu in Punjab was reported from Nabha in Patiala district last month, where a 50-year-old woman tested positive for the disease.

A 22-year-old girl, who is the latest suspected case, was admitted yesterday to the Government Rajindra Hospital following the suspicion of the virus. Out of the six suspected cases, two were found positive for the H1N1 virus. However, no death has been reported due to the H1N1 so far.

Though the State Health Department had claimed that there was no case of indigenous H1N1 in the state, with the rising number of suspected patients it seems that the influenza is proliferating and putting officials concerned in a quandary.

Civil Surgeon, Dr Manjit Singh, said, “We are maintaining a good surveillance and are extra conscious. Therefore, there are more suspected cases. Most cases are not indigenous. We have been able to curb the spread of H1N1. We have given Tamil Flu tablets to whosoever, who has come into contact with the patients suffering from the disease.” 

Moreover, the department claimed that all the precautionary measures had been taken. Doctors across the state have been directed to provide immediate health care to anyone, who shows symptoms of the H1N1.

Health officials appealed to take precautions, which include washing hands properly, using sanitisers and avoid visiting crowded places.