First swine flu case in Gurgaon: Resident tests positive for H1N1 virus, hospitals on alert
All hospitals in the district have been put on H1N1 alert after Gurgaon reported the first swine flu death of the year last Wednesday. The health department has told all private hospitals and diagnostic centres to not charge more than ₹4,500 for an H1N1 test
A 34-year-old man from Sushant Lok 1 tested positive for the H1N1 virus on Sunday, making him the first case of swine flu in the city this year.
The patient was admitted to a private hospital in Sector 38 on Friday with reported symptoms of high fever, cough and severe body ache. He was advised to take an H1N1 test by doctors at the hospital. The test results were positive, the health department officials confirmed.
It is mandatory for every hospital to share with the health department details of patients suffering from swine flu.
Dr SS Saroha, deputy civil surgeon at the Civil Hospital, said, “We have received information that a patient, admitted to a private hospital in Sector 38, has tested positive for H1N1. According to the information we have, the said patient’s condition is improving with the treatment being given. We have told the hospital to regularly share his details with us.”
All hospitals in the district have been put on H1N1 alert after Gurgaon reported the first swine flu death of the year last Wednesday.
Last week, 43-year-old Bhupander Yadav, from Alwar in Rajasthan, was admitted to the same private hospital in Sector 38 in a critical condition. He was found to be suffering from H1N1 and died in the hospital, the health department confirmed.
After Yadav’s death, the health department directed all hospitals to test all suspected patients for swine flu to they get correct, and timely treatment, and also to ensure the virus does not spread to others.
On Saturday, the health department had asked all private hospitals and test centres to not charge more than ₹4,500 for an H1N1 test. The establishments were also warned that if they do not comply to the set price limit, they would face action, chief medical officer at Gurgaon Civil Hospital BK Rajora had said.
Since the first case of swine flu was reported in 2009, the virus has resurfaced from time to time in the city. According to the guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation, swine flu is now in its post-pandemic stage and needs to be treated like any other seasonal flu.