Two more test positive for swine flu

Three more persons have tested positive for swine flu, taking the number of the affected admitted in the city hospitals to 24.

Five people have died so far of the H1N1 virus in various hospitals in the district. While two of them belonged to Jalanahdar and Kapurthala one is from Moga district.

The new patients brought in on Friday are a 75-year-old man from Nathu Mazra village, Sangrur, and a 47-year-old male from Haibowal Kalan.

The patient from Sangrur has been admitted in the SPS Apollo while the Kalan resident is being treated at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).

The 24 swine flu patients include a 60-year-old doctor from Agar Nagar who was referred to DMCH by doctors at Apollo hospital. The doctor's condition is said to be critical and he has been put on ventilator.

It's not known if the doctor contracted the virus after coming in contact with a swine flu patient.

Swine flu cases in Ludhiana include many who have come from other parts like Kapurthala, Moga, Barnala, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur and Fazilka.

District epidemiologist, Dr Anil Verma, told HT: "We have already issued instructions to all the doctors and other staff dealing with swine flu patients to wear three-layer masks and gloves as preventive measures."