Five fresh swine flu cases were reported in Kolkata on Thursday. The number of the swine flu-hit in the city, including a 26-year-old pregnant woman who tested positive for the deadly H1N1 virus on Wednesday, now stands at 47. Two persons have died so far.
Confirming reports of fresh cases on the day, state health secretary Malay De said, “Five more swine cases were reported today on Thursday. The throat swab samples of these patients tested positive for H1N1. The tests were conducted at NICD (National Institute of Communicable Diseases) in Beliaghata. However, the pregnant woman is stable and being treated as per guidelines.”
“Ten patients admitted at different hospitals have been discharged, while another 35 are still under treatment. There’s no need to panic. The health department is working in tandem with doctors of all hospitals to treat those affected and contain the spread of this disease. H1N1 is less virulent and the fatality rate (in the state) has also come down,” De said.
“We have sufficient stock of oseltamivir capsules. All hospitals housing swine flu patients have been directed to get the drug from Swasthya Bhaban control room. However, we wouldn’t allow private chemist shops to sell this medicine over the counter, as that would avoid irrational and rampant use of this drug,” De said. A Mumbai-based manufacturing company has reportedly sent bulk shipments of oseltamivir to select chemist shops at three or four premier private hospitals in the city.
{{/usCountry}}“We have sufficient stock of oseltamivir capsules. All hospitals housing swine flu patients have been directed to get the drug from Swasthya Bhaban control room. However, we wouldn’t allow private chemist shops to sell this medicine over the counter, as that would avoid irrational and rampant use of this drug,” De said. A Mumbai-based manufacturing company has reportedly sent bulk shipments of oseltamivir to select chemist shops at three or four premier private hospitals in the city.
{{/usCountry}}A company official said the drug-manufacturing firm has supplied large consignments of the medicine to the chemists’ at private hospitals in Alipore, EM Bypass and Dhakuria areas.