Gurgaon hospitals on alert as suspected swine flu cases rise

Doctors have advised residents to wash their hands regularly and get medical opinion in case of cold and flu

Taking note of the rise in suspected Swine Flu cases in the region, the health department issued an advisory on Monday to all hospitals to take immediate action for patients with H1N1 virus.

All hospitals have been told to activate rapid action team at the district level and ensure the isolation wards, intentive care unit (ICU) beds and ventilators facilities are available. (Parveen Kumar/HT FILE)

The hospitals are asked to be on alert and to spread awareness regarding the disease. Swine flu is contagious and the virus can spread and multiply in this season easily because of the favourable weather condition, said doctors at Civil Hospital, Gurgaon.

All hospitals have been told to activate rapid action team at the district level and ensure the isolation wards, intentive care unit (ICU) beds and ventilators facilities are available.

“Sensitizing people regarding the diseases are important.Thus, all the paramedical staff, doctors, principals of schools and colleges, municipal staffs and students will be made aware regarding the H1N1. The private hospitals are also asked to inform the government hospital regarding any such case and also get all the personal details of the patient,” said Dr. Kanta Goyal, principal medical officer, Civil Hospital, Gurgaon.

Though the patients under H1N1 are generally made to stay in isolation as the virus spread to others easily, however, the doctors also pointed out that, there three categories under H1N1 and only the ‘Category C’, are advised to get admitted in isolation ward at hospital.

In ‘Category A’, the patient does not require testing for H1N1 and they are not advised to stay in isolation as well, as the patients’ suffer from mild fever, sore throat, cough, body ache, headache, nausea and diarrhoea. Similarly, the patients in ‘Category B’ suffers from high fever and also other symptoms that of the category A.

The patients who have both the symptoms of category A and B are categorized under ‘Category C’ and they can also develop breathlessness and chest pain.

The hospitals are making required arrangements and also advising people to wash hands properly and get doctors’ advice in case of cold and flu.

Read I Gurgaon: Hospitals on alert after suspected swine flu cases reported

“It is dangerous as it spreads through contact and the virus gets activated because of change in weather condition,” Dr. Rajesh Kumar, senior consultant, Internal Medicine, Paras hospital Gurgaon.

Even as there are no confirmed cases of Swine Flu so far, however, the suspected cases in the region are on the rise. During 2014, 37 cases of H1N1 were reported in Gurgaon with no death. In the last two years no H1N1 cases were reported.

“We have witnessed three suspected cases so far , while we have 37 suspected Dengue cases and seven confirmed Malaria cases. We are taking all precaution for the H1N1 influenza which is the most deadly”, Dr. Ram Prakash Rai, epidemic in-charge, Civil Hospital, Gurgaon, said.