Seven-month-old girl among 4 diagnosed with swine flu in Gurgaon

The others who tested positive for the H1N1 virus are a four-year-old boy from Saraswati Enclave, a 28-year-old man from Shikopur and a 18-year-old man from Gurgaon

Swine flu cases have made a comeback in Gurgaon after two years with four patients, including a seven-month-old girl, testing positive for the H1N1 virus on Friday, the health department said.

No cases of H1N1 flu was reported in the last two years in the city. In 2014, 37 cases were reported in Gurgaon but no death. The last swine flu case was reported in March 2015. (Parveen Kumar/HT FILE)

No cases of H1N1 flu was reported in the last two years in the city. In 2014, 37 cases were reported in Gurgaon but no death. The last swine flu case was reported in March 2015.

The infant, a resident of Kanhai village, tested positive for the virus at Paras hospital. She was referred to Civil Hospital and later to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi. The three other cases were also reported by Paras hospital to Civil Hospital, Gurgaon.

The other three who tested positive are a four-year-old boy from Saraswati Enclave, a 28-year-old man from Shikopur and a 18-year-old man from the city.

According to the health department, these patients were suffering from cold, cough, eye pain and difficulties in breathing. All four patients were admitted to Paras hospital with high fever on Tuesday and the swab test for detecting H1N1 virus was done at the hospital’s laboratory. After the reports came out positive, the details were shared with the Civil Hospital, doctors said.

All hospitals have been put on alert and the health department has asked them to prepare isolation wards and keep swab test kits ready.

“Swine flu is a highly contagious infection and can lead to serious respiratory issues and, in many cases, turn fatal. Swine flu cases should not be treated as an ordinary flu and we have geared up for any emergency,” said BK Rajora, chief medical officer, Civil Hospital, Gurgaon.

Doctors in the government hospital said the isolation ward is ready and Tamiflu medicines, the main drug to treat swine flu, are also available.

Although H1N1 patients are generally made to stay in isolation wards, owing to the contagious nature of the disease, doctors pointed out that there are three categories under H1N1 and only ‘Category C’ patients are advised to be isolated.

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

Category A patients are not advised to stay in isolation as they usually suffer from mild fever, sore throat, cough, body ache, headache, nausea and diarrhoea.

Patients in Category B suffer from high fever as well as the other symptoms of those in Category A.

The patients who have symptoms of both Category A and B are categorised under Category C. Such patients may also develop breathlessness and chest pain.

Doctors have advised people to wash their hands properly and get a medical advice in case of a cold or flu.