Health dept geared up to tackle swine flu in Ghaziabad

Health department Thursday said that only one death has been reported in the district due to swine flu this year and at least 35 people were tested positive for the contagious disease.

Ghaziabad: Health department Thursday said that only one death has been reported in the district due to swine flu this year and at least 35 people were tested positive for the contagious disease.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Ajay Aggarwal said that from January 1 till date only one casualty has been reported due to swine flu in Ghaziabad.

District Magistrate Vimal Kumar Sharma said that hospitals are well equipped to deal with the disease and people "should not panic".

"Stock of 'Tamiflu' medicine is available at government hospital and two designated private hospitals -- Yashoda and Pushpanjali Crosslay hospitals-- in the district," he said.

"I am continuously monitoring the situation," the DM said.

"Dr Gyanendra Sharma, District Malaria Officer, has been deputed as Nodal Officer to keep a 24 x 7 hour vigil on district and designated hospitals where suspected swine flu patients are reporting and are under treatment," Sharma said.

Dr PN Arora, managing director of Yashoda Hospital, said that H1N1 virus is getting "weaker day by day" as the mercury is rising and will die its own death in the days to come.

Dr Vinay Aggarwal, chairman of Pushpanjali Crosslay Hospital, Vaishali, the second designated hospital in Ghaziabad, said that till today 40 cases referred by different hospitals were reported there.

After check up, 15 patients found with positive symptoms, were given treatment, he said.

"We have dedicated 15 beds in our intensive care ward to meet any eventuality. Hospital is having ample stock of 'Tamiflu' provided by district administration," he said.

"Two suspected patients are still under observation in isolation ward. A total of 302 samples have been tested and only 35 were found positive," Dr Narendra Saini, member of Hygiene Council of Delhi, said. 

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