The fact that 12 swabs of suspected H1N1 cases in a fortnight from Haridwar alone have been sent to National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for confirmatory swine flu test has triggered panic among the residents of the district. Notably, over 65 swabs of suspected cases have been sent to NCDC in New Delhi for confirmatory test since January, said the health officials.
Things are truly scary with two having already died in Uttarakhand since the menace emerged this year. Both private and Government hospitals are being swarmed with suspected cases, officials said on Monday. 75 suspected cases have been reported from the State out of which 11 have proved positive with two having died.
Till now, two Swine flu cases have been found positive out of eight suspected patients. Those found test positive are from Subash Nagar. All hospital nurses, staff members and doctors have been asked to observe precautionary guidelines to stop the onslaught of the disease. As per the sources, two more suspected cases of Swine flu have been reported. Both the patients have been admitted at RK Mission Hospital.
Samples have been taken and treatment is on. Nodal Officer Dr Sandeep Nigam has confirmed the news, adding that Swine flu having turned local is adding to the worry. What can compound matters with the menace spreading wings and deepening its tentacles is the fact that the district health department has not got adequate number of Tamiflu (the drug required to treat such cases). Sources further said that the district health department is now planning to purchase the same from Rajasthan based pharmaceutical company. Indent has been sent from the PHC’s (Primary health center) and CHC’s (Community health center) of the district.
Sources said the doctors in the Government hospitals are giving false assurances to the patients who are enquiring about the availability of the medicine. Sources added that the doctors are making the patients in round-about ways to opt the service of private hospitals for better and quick treatment. The State, particularly, Haridwar district, are vulnerable due to continuous flow of Kanwarwalas during the Maha Shivratri Mela from other States where situations are assuming grim proportions with the deaths rising. If sources are to be believed, some flu–afflicted persons were among those who had visited Haridwar over the past week.