Seasonal influenza: WHO, NIH teams arrive in Multan

At least 56 suspected seasonal influenza patients have been reported from Nishtar Hospital so far

MULTAN: A four-member team from World Health Organisation (WHO) and National Institute of Health (NIH) arrived in Multan on Tuesday to monitor seasonal influenza cases at Nishtar Hospital.

Officials at Nishtar Hospital said that the team members included WHO official Jamshaid, Ambreen Chaudhry, Nazia Hassan and Umer Daraz. The officials reached Multan to get latest update on seasonal influenza cases.

At least 56 suspected seasonal influenza patients had been reported from Nishtar Hospital so far, out of whom 12 died, the officials said.

They added that 22 patients were still admitted at the health facility.

At least 10 out of 22 patients tested positive for the disease while clinical reports of five were still awaited, they pointed out.

A total of four patients were admitted to intensive care unit while 18 were under treatment at isolation ward, the officials maintained.

They elaborated that 40 beds had been allocated for the patients at isolation ward while four at ICU with ventilators.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2018.