Suspected swine flu case turns negative, health department on vigil

Jamshedpur, Aug. 5 : The suspected case of H1N1 virus that emerged from Jamshedpur has been tested negative. Reports that came Kolkata turned to be negative.

The throat swab sample sent to the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) Kolkata has tested negative.

�The throat swab of the 48-year-old woman, a resident of Gaur Basti in Mango undergoing treatment at intensive care unit (ICU) of Tata Motors Hospital was collected and sent to NICED Kolkata. It has turned out to be negetive,� said district surveillance officer (Integrated Disease Surveillance Program- IDSP) Dr Sahir Pall.

State surveillance officer Dr Ramesh Prasad said that they have sent orders to all our surveillance officers across districts to inform all private and state-owned hospitals to immediately inform about any suspected swine flu cases so that throat swab samples can be collected and sent to Kolkata at the earliest for early confirmation.

� We have also asked all the officials to ensure that Tamiflu (medicine prescribed to control severity of swine flu) is in adequate amount at all district hospitals,� noted another official.

�There has been no swine flu positive case or even suspected cases in the district. But we are pulling up our socks in order to meet any exigency, if at all, it arises. Our staff is trained in using PPEs for collection of throat swabs. It is mandatory for doctors and para-medics to use PPEs while treating patients with H1N1 viral strain,� said the health official.

Sources at the district civil surgeon�s office revealed that Railway Hospital in Khasmahal, Tata Main Hospital , Tata Motors Hospital, Mercy Hospital and MGM Medical College and Hospital had been asked to keep isolation wards ready as a precautionary step.

The health department has also provided the workers of MGM Medical College and Hospital and other health centres with other necessary instructions.