7 more swine flu cases, count 13 this year

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 17

Seven more patients have tested positive for swine flu and with these cases, the number of swine flu patients from Ludhiana district has gone up to 13 this  year. Besides, 20 cases of suspected swine flu have also been reported.

The number of patients testing positive for swine flu has seen an increase in the past few days.

The Civil Surgeon, Dr Parvinder Pal Singh Sidhu, said there was nothing to panic and people should take precautionary measures to keep the flu at bay.

Dr Sidhu elaborated on  various categories of swine flu patients. There are three categories of patients, A,  B and C.

In these categories, patients will have mild fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, headache and vomiting. “For category A patients, no testing and tamiflu tablet are required. One needs to rest and should not mix in the public or high-risk members,” said Dr Sidhu.

In category B, patients have high grade fever, severe soar throat and the symptoms of patients of category A. No testing of HINI is required. On should go for home isolation and take tamiflu tablet as per doctor’s prescription, said Dr Sidhu.

With regard to the category C patients, The Civil Surgeon said the patients had the symptoms of patients of both A and B category besides drowsiness, low BP, breathlessness, chest pain and blood in sputum.

The category C patients should get the HINI test done, take treatment under a doctor’s supervision and get hospitalised immediately, said Dr Sidhu.

Precautions 

• Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze.
• Use disposable tissues instead of a handkerchief. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth too often. 
• Wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitiser. 
• Try and avoid close contact, especially with infected people.