Nine more cases of swine flu in Capital

Nine more people were tested positive for swine flu in the Capital on Saturday, taking the total number of people infected with the deadly H1N1 virus to 73. HT reports.

Nine more people were tested positive for swine flu in the Capital on Saturday, taking the total number of people infected with the deadly H1N1 virus to 73.

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So far, three people have succumbed to the disease in Delhi -- one death in January and two in February.

“Although the number of cases is rising, there is no panic yet. The cases are coming from all over the city and there is no specific trend or concentration of cases in any particular area to trigger fears,” said Dr AK Walia, Delhi health minister.

Of the nine new cases, two cases have been reported from Sir Gangaram Hospital and Jaipur Golden Hospital and one each from Apollo, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, National Centre for Disease Control and Aashlok Hospital in Safdarjung Enclave.

“People should not panic as medicines are available for the treatment of the disease and, most importantly, it is not a life-threatening disease if one reports to the hospital in time,” said Dr Walia.

He had convened an emergency meeting last week to designate hospitals for treatment of patients affected by the H1N1 influenza virus.

“H1N1 influenza or swine flu is self-limiting and can be treated at home. But in some cases, patients may suffer from very high fever and respiratory distress due to the infection. In that case, they should report to the nearest designated hospital to prevent any emergency situation,” said Dr Richa Diwan, medical superintendent at Lok Nayak Hospital.

The Delhi government has designated 22 hospitals, including five private ones, for the treatment of swine flu-affected patients.

“All designated hospitals have been asked to keep enough ventilators in isolation wards so that patients can be given required intervention at any time. The supply of Tamiflu, the only designated drug for H1N1 treatment, is also steady and there is no shortage,” said a government official.

Health officials said tests were being carried out at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, AIIMS and Patel Chest Institute.