AIIMS doctor latest swine flu victim

A senior resident doctor of the country’s premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences might be the latest victim of influenza H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu. The senior resident, from the department of medicine, was admitted into the hospital reportedly with swine flu like symptoms yesterday. HT reports

A senior resident doctor of the country’s premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) might be the latest victim of influenza A H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.

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The senior resident, from the department of medicine, was admitted into the hospital reportedly with swine flu like symptoms late on Monday night.

Hospital authorities, however, refused to confirm the report. Sources in the hospital informed that the doctor was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. His test report was still awaited.

The doctor reportedly had returned from a trip outside Delhi a few days ago. There has been a significant rise in the number of swine flu cases since the arrival of monsoon last week 14 fresh cases of the disease were reported from the city.

“It was expected in this weather, but our health department is fully prepared. All our hospitals are well equipped to handle any kind of situation, though things are very much under control as of now,” said Dr Debashish Bhattacharya, Delhi government appointed nodal officer for swine flu in the city.

Total number of laboratory confirmed cases of swine flu in the national Capital has reached 9,717. In Delhi, the number of people who succumbed to the disease, so far, is 96.

Meanwhile, a Pune based vaccine manufacturer, Serum Institute of India, launched on Tuesday its indigenously developed intra nasal vaccine Nosavac for the prevention of swine flu.

Priced at Rs 158, the vaccine is available across the city at all chemist shops. Except pregnant women, anyone above three years of age can use the vaccine with reaction as mild as sneezing.

“The vaccine is absolutely safe, and whatever mild reactions that someone feels will go away within a day or two,” said Cyrus Poonawalla, chairman, Serum institute.