Swine flu on the rise, third positive case in a month

The health department on Tuesday registered another case of swine flu, putting the count of positive swine flu cases at two and one death. Himabindu Reddy reports.

The health department on Tuesday registered another case of swine flu, putting the count of positive swine flu cases at two and one death.

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The latest case was reported by Aarvy Hospital, wherein a 39-year-old man from Sector 49 tested positive for the H1N1 virus. He has been quarantined at his residence.

"Suspected cases of swine flu have started to come in. We test one sample every day," said a junior official of the department on the condition of anonymity.

However, disparity exists in the figures of cases provided by the Gurgaon health department and private hospitals.

While the health department has tagged H1N1 cases at two with one death, private hospitals put the figure at three positive cases and one death.

The case which has not been reported by the health department is of a man in his mid-thirties admitted at Artemis Health Sciences.Doctors say the disparity exists as the symptoms are similar to seasonal or common flu.

"A number of suspected H1N1 cases are being reported in the OPDs. All suffering from common flu have to undergo a test which costs Rs 4,500 but not many can afford it. This causes disparity," said Dr Ashutosh Shukla, director of internal medicine, Artemis Health Sciences.