At least 26 patients in Jharkhand have been tested positive for H1N1 flu this year, a figure that has rung the alarm bells for the State’s disease control machinery.
As per the latest data with the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), out of the 26 samples tested positive, 20 are from Simdega district and three each from Ranchi and East Singhbhum.
“The count of patients tested positive for Swine Flu was 26 at the time of the latest compilation of the figures on Wednesday night. By now, we have sent 59 samples for testing from Jharkhand,” said Rakesh Dayal, State Surveillance Officer for IDSP.
Moreover, three fresh samples were sent for molecular test to Kolkata from the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) on Thursday and the reports are awaited. Dr. Manoj Kumar, the head of microbiology department at RIMS, said that two of these three patients are admitted in Orchid Hospital while the remaining one is undergoing treatment at Raj Hospital. Blood samples of three patients admitted in Medica Hospital in Ranchi were also sent for molecular test to Kolkata on Wednesday.
“One of the patients tested positive in Ranchi died of the disease. The other two patients tested positive are his children,” Kumar said.
A total of 23 samples have been sent for molecular test from Ranchi o far. By now RIMS has received the reports for 21 patients, out of which three were tested positive.
In 2018 only four patients were tested H1N1 positive in Jharkhand and one death was reported, as per figures with the IDSP.
The State saw 35 cases of Swine Flu in 2017, the maximum reported so far in a year.
“The State is equipped to deal with the outbreak. We are doing everything possible to put a check on the spread of the virus and prevent loss of life,” said Health Secretary, Nitin Madan Kulkarni.
Jharkhand has already witnessed a Swine Flu death this year in the State Capital. Hitesh Kumar, who worked in the merchant navy in South Korea, died of Swine Flu in the city on January 25. Kumar returned to Ranchi in mid-January after being taken ill and lived in an apartment on Kanke Road. After complaining of high fever, chills and severe body aches, he was admitted in Medanta Hospital in the last week of January.
The Health Department has issued strict instructions that no hospital in Jharkhand should take any case of suspected Swine Flu lightly. Hospitals in all the 24 districts have been asked to immediately report if any patient’s symptoms mimic that of H1N1 Flu. Besides, Swine Flu kits have also been made available in all the 24 districts.