Swine flu patients in Ghaziabad rise to 47

At Gautam Budh Nagar, the count of positive swine flu cases has remained at 33 with no fresh cases confirmed by NCDC lab.

At least 14 more cases of swine flu have been confirmed by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) till Thursday, thereby taking the total count of H1N1 swine flu patients to 47 here.

The number of Swine Flu cases have in Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad have increased. (HT file)

“Earlier, the count of positive swine flu cases was 33. On Wednesday evening, eight more cases were confirmed and on Thursday evening, six more cases were confirmed. The total count is now 47,” said GK Mishra, district malaria officer, Ghaziabad health department.

The district health department of Ghaziabad has dispatched fresh samples of suspected swine flu cases to the Delhi lab for test.

“On Tuesday, we had dispatched 27 new samples and then on Wednesday and Thursday, we sent nine cases for confirmation. Results usually come after 48 hours in the Delhi based laboratory,” said Mishra.

At Gautam Budh Nagar, the count of positive swine flu cases has remained at 33 with no fresh cases confirmed by NCDC lab.

“We have not yet dispatched any fresh samples as the results of the samples we had dispatched earlier are awaited,” said Dr Anurag Bhargav, chief medical officer, Gautam Budh Nagar.

Swine Flu is an infection caused by swine influenza viruses that is endemic in pigs. It is a highly contagious disease and can be easily spread from a patient through saliva and mucus particles.

The Ghaziabad administration has finally turned its attention towards rising number of cases of swine flu in the district. On Wednesday evening, district magistrate Ministi S held a meeting with the officials of the health department and asked them to propagate the prevention medicines and sanitation campaign in the city.

“DM has asked us to propagate that the health department will provide medicines to the patients of swine flu. Also, a list of private and government hospitals that provide medicines for swine flu will be broadcasted on local TV channels”, added Mishra.

The health department has also started surveying areas where positive cases of swine flu have come up.

“We are currently tracking these areas to check their sanitation and cleanliness level. Patients from whom samples are collected are provided precautionary medicines so that their health doesn’t deteriorate till the next 48 hours,” said Mishra.