7 Swine Flu cases reported in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh Health Department steps up surveillance

The health department has intensified surveillance in Bilaspur district in Chhattisgarh where seven people have been tested positive for H1N1 or swine flu. Now, out of the seven cases reported, two patients are under treatment at the Apollo hospital and the remaining five have recovered and been discharged after receiving treatment.

Both of the patients in hospital are 75-year-old women. Reports of her condition as stable, non-threatening and improving have led to the removal of her from intensive care. The travel history of the patient has also been being probed in other efforts to ascertain a probable source of the infection in a 30-year old patient from Raipur.

After the cases were identified, the district has started to beef up its surveillance of all suspected H1N1 or Swine Flu patients. Identification of suspected patients and monitoring of their health status are under way at CIMS, District Hospital and PHC-CHC levels.

Hospitals and health centres have been told to be alert and take close watch of those who have symptoms, such as coughing and fever, that could be linked to swine flu. The department is also examining arrangements to be put in place if people are suspected of having the disease for testing, diagnosis, and treatment.

Five of the seven patients have recovered already after undergoing treatment, while the other two are being treated at Apollo hospital, officials said.

The health department is conducting surveillance of the hospitalised patients and tracing the source and mode of transmission. The police have asked medical institutions not to take their guard down and continued monitoring in Bilaspur.