http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4869318.cms
Doc, chemist with H1N1 battle for life
TNN 8 August 2009, 02:18am IST
PUNE/NEW DELHI: As swine cases across the country rose, an ayurvedic doctor and a chemist infected with the H1N1 virus were battling for their lives on Friday in Pune, the city from which the first flu fatality was reported. Both the doctor and the chemist are on the ventilator.
Across India, 96 new cases were confirmed taking the total number of flu to 171. Alarmed by the spurt, the Union health ministry on Friday decided to allow private hospitals and labs with bio-safety level-II to conduct swab tests but only if these had isolation wards where positive cases could be quarantined. These private facilities are also required to have a real-time PCR, the gold-standard test to detect H1N1. Health authorities also directed fliers in high-risk groups, such as senior citizens, and heart patients, to wear masks at all times during the journey.
On Friday, Mumbai also reported its first flu-positive case - a school student. While school authorities denied the student had swine flu, health officials confirmed the case. The school will be shut from Monday. (at least they have the good sense to close the school, unlike some countries. Hope)
In Pune, the 36-year-old who had been suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) for a week, went to the Naidu government hospital to get his throat swabs taken. According to the doctor’s brother, authorities at Naidu hospital did not take his throat swab following which he went to a private hospital. When he started complaining of breathlessness on Wednesday, the hospital, suspecting it to be a case of swine flu, sent his swab for testing to the NIV on Thursday. The report, which was received early on Friday, showed that he was H1N1 positive.
The 35-year-old chemist from Hadapsar, who tested positive for the flu and was admitted to the Sassoon hospital on Thursday night, was said to be showing signs of improvement. He was brought to the in a critical condition, medical superintendent Pandurang Pawar said.
A six-year-old girl, who also tested positive for swine flu at a private hospital, was shifted to Sassoon hospital later in the evening. Her condition was stable, said Dr Pawar.
Ten people with whom the chemist came in contact over the past few days have been quarantined and under observation. Most of them are the chemist’s relatives. Eight of them have been quarantined at home while two are at Sassoon hospital.
The hospital has just two ventilators and has requisitioned for six more. Dr Pawar said he had enough Tamiflu tablets but has still asked for 5,000 more.
Just read that masks should be NIOSH rated. N-95 or N-100.