Swine flu detected, patient critical

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 15

One patient undergoing treatment at Shija Hospitals and Research Institute tested positive for pandemic influenza H1N1 (swine flu) and the condition of the patient is reportedly critical.

Announcing the detection health minister L. Jayantakumar at a media conference at Old Secretariat conference hall today said the 45 years old male patient hails from Imphal West district and is now at the intensive care unit of the private hospital.

According to the minister, the patient was brought to the Shija hospitals on July 4 with high fever. As the treatment did not yield any result the hospital sent throat swab of the patient to Mumbai based S. R. L. Diagnostic on July 10. The test result, which was received yesterday evening confirmed swine flu.

Stating that all measures have been taken to deal with the situation the minister said a state monitoring cell has been set up and surveillance has started in Imphal West and Imphal East.

Jayantakumar said the whole isolation ward with ventilators in JNIMS is kept reserved for treatment of the disease while five beds in the isolation ward with ventilators of RIMS are reserved in case if there is any new report of the case as a precaution.

He said instructions were given to all the health centres of the state by the health department, he added.

The minister said that currently the state has Tami flu stock of 1400 for adults and for 430 for children.

He appealed to the public not to be alarmed as there is no outbreak and in view of the the measures taken to control it.

Public health, additional director, Dr. Sachi said that the virus seems to be circulated from the state itself.

As of now the patient is kept in ICU ward of Shija hospital with ventilating support and there is chances that the patient may become critical, taking into consideration of medical history of the patient, he added.