Epidemic concern: Woman dies of swine flu, two test positive

10 patients showing symptoms admitted to Nishtar Hospital in last seven days, says Nishtar Hospital MS.

MULTAN:

A woman who had been suffering from swine flu died in Multan on Friday.

Ataur Rehman of the District Epidemic Control Committee said the deceased, Humaira, 45, a resident of Daulat Gate Colony, was being treated at Nishtar Hospital.

He said Humaira’s sister, Nasreen, 50, was also suffering from the disease, according to an initial report. Rehman said Ghulam Sakina, 65, a resident of Dera Ghazi Khan and Mehmoodul Hassan, a resident of Khanewal, had also been admitted to Nishtar Hospital after they showing swine flu symptoms.

Nishtar Hospital Medical Superintendent Ashiq Malik told The Express Tribune that patients displaying symptoms of swine flu were being treated at a separate ward at the hospital.

“As many as 10 patients have been admitted in seven days… three patients including Humaira were tested positive for swine flu,” he said.

Executive District Officer (Health) Iftikhar Qureshi on Thursday appointed Dr Mazharul Khaliq the focal person for admitting people with swine flu symptoms from south Punjab to Nishtar Hospital.

Khaliq said 30-year-old Farah, a resident of Taunsa, was the first patient who tested positive for swine flu after she was brought to Nishtar Hospital on Tuesday. “Her condition is critical… a doctor treating her had also tested positive later… his condition is stable,” he said.

He said the paramedical staff at the hospital was under observation and their blood samples had been sent to the National Institute of Health, Islamabad.

“According to an initial enquiry by the Health Department the swine flu virus might been brought by birds from Siberia,” EDO (Health) Iftikhar Qureshi said.

He said three teams constituted by the Livestock Department had inspected poultry farms in the area to mitigate the threat of swine flu spread.

He said the Livestock Department teams had started sending samples from the poultry farms for lab tests. “We have issued an advisory to the citizens, asking them not to keep birds like parrots at their homes. Poultry farm owners are also asked to adopt all preventive measures,” he added.

The health executive district officer said the Communicable Disease Department Additional Director Jaffar Ilyas and World Health Organisation (WHO) teams had also arrived in Multan after Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the matter.

He said swine flu symptoms include high fever, cough and nasal congestion. “The symptoms may worsen if untreated,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2014.