Chandigarh doctor tests positive for swine flu

CHANDIGARH - A senior doctor at a leading hospital here has tested positive for the influenza A (H1N1) virus, a health official said Saturday.

He is among the dozens of doctors and other medical staff here who have contracted swine flu.

The patient is a resident doctor of Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). He was exhibiting symptoms of swine flu like running nose, high fever and bad throat. We had collected his throat and nasal swab samples Thursday and his report has come positive, a health official said.

His condition is stable and he is responding well to treatment. Due to the nature of work, doctors and other hospital staff have become more prone to infection. We instructed them to follow all the precautionary measures and to remain extra cautious,” he said.

Till now, nearly 250 suspected cases of swine flu have been reported in Chandigarh hospitals, of which over 40 have proved positive. One casualty has been reported till now.

In Chandigarh, testing facility of this virus is available at the virology department of PGIMER, which is catering to Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

Quarantined wards for the treatment of swine flu have been established at PGIMER, Government Medical College and Hospital and Government Hospital.