Swine Flu Tests in Lucknow are Done Only After Patients Provide Contact Details

Lucknow has reported 17 cases of swine flu and two deaths after which the health authorities are in action. Isolation wards are prepared for patients affected by H1N1 virus in the two big hospitals, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) and the King George’s Medical University (KGMU).

Since the fear of swine flu has struck the city, health officials have asked the other government hospitals to prepare isolation wards and equip them with ventilator facilities.

Lucknow-based hospitals will also have to take care of serious swine patients of neighbouring districts, authorities said.

Health officials have been monitoring localities from where swine flu cases have been reported so far.

The chief medical officer has asked all major hospitals and microbiology labs of KGMU and SGPGI to conduct tests of H1N1 only after recording address and mobile numbers of patients so that spread of the virus could be checked.

Two hospitals in Hyderabad did not share the details of swine flu patients with government health authorities for the purpose of surveillance and were issued show cause notices. More than 20 cases have slipped from the hospitals and could be spreading the virus.

One of the health officials complained, "These corporate hospitals do not mind charging swine flu patients exorbitantly, but never bother to provide us complete addresses or their phone numbers to track them".

Source-Medindia