Four more test positive for swine flu in Gurgaon, docs ask people to take precautions

In all the cases, doctors said, patients suffered from breathing difficulties, high fever, cold, body ache and headache . The patients who tested positive for swine flu include three males between the age group of 30-35 and one 60-year-old woman. All the patients are from the Palam Vihar area of the city.

Four more cases of swine flu were confirmed in Gurgaon on Tuesday taking the total number pf cases reported from the city to eight. The details of the cases have been sent to state health department.

Because of increase in number of swine flu patients, doctors have advised residents to avoid coming in close contact with patients who have tested positive for the disease and stay on guard against swine flu-like symptoms. (Sonu Mehta/ HT photo)

In all the cases, doctors said, patients suffered from breathing difficulties, high fever, cold, body ache and headache . The patients who tested positive for swine flu include three males between the age group of 30-35 and one 60-year-old woman. All the patients are from the Palam Vihar area of the city.

At present all the patients are being treated at Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon, where they were admitted to last week.

According to doctors, the H1N1 virus can lead to serious health issues. Last year, no swine flu cases had been reported from Gurgaon.

Earlier, four patients — including a 7-month-old girl – had tested positive for swine flu on Friday (August 4).

Manjeeta Nath Das, consultant, internal medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon said, “We are witnessing many patients who are coming in with symptoms of swine flu. The number of such suspected cases has shot up in Gurgaon. In the last three days, four patients have tested positive of swine flu in our hospital.”

Because of increase in number of swine flu patients, doctors have advised residents to avoid coming in close contact with patients who have tested positive for the disease and stay on guard against swine flu-like symptoms.

“We have asked all private and government hospitals to keep a track of patients with H1N1 virus. The infants and the elderly should take more precautions as they are more susceptible to the virus,” said Dr BK Rajora, chief medical officer, Civil hospital, Gurgaon.

In 2014, 37 cases of H1N1 had been reported in Gurgaon with no deaths. Before 2017, the last swine flu case reported from the city was in March 2015.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), at present the world is in a post-pandemic period for swine flu.

“Based on knowledge about past pandemics, the H1N1 (2009) virus is expected to continue to circulate as a seasonal virus for some years to come. While the level of concern is now greatly diminished, vigilance on the part of national health authorities remains important. National health authorities are reminded that cases and local outbreaks of H1N1 (2009) infection will continue to occur, and in some locations, such outbreaks could have a substantial impact on communities,” reads the WHO recommendations on H1N1 in post-pandemic period.