Gurugram: 2 new swine flu cases, hospitals told to display bed status at entrance

GURUGRAM: The health department on Friday confirmed two cases of swine flu influenza (H1N1) in the city.
So far, the city has reported three cases this season.
A two-year-old boy and a 67-year-old man were admitted to a private hospital last week with breathlessness, cough, and high fever. Both have been discharged on Friday and are under quarantine at their respective homes.
Swine flu is a communicable respiratory disease caused by a subtype of influenza A virus, called H1N1. “Swine flu now behaves like common cold influenza. Such cases should be treated like seasonal influenza. Home isolation is preferred until clinicians advise admission in case the virus is causing severe hypoxia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and multiple organ dysfunction syndromes. Emphasis is laid on prompt antiviral therapy and early diagnosis of severe cases,” said Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, Gurgaon.
“All private hospitals are directed to keep a display board at the entrance, furnishing updated details of availability of regular beds, beds with oxygen supply and ICU beds (ventilator/CPAP) and also contact number of nearby hospitals so that patients can contact other hospitals if needed,” said Yadav.
Anticipating a rise in Swine flu and dengue cases, the health department has asked all hospitals in the district to admit only moderate and severe patients. Mild patients are recommended to opt for home isolation. “We have told all hospitals not to admit patients with mild symptoms. These patients can be treated at home,” Yadav added. The city reported one H1N1 case last year and 13 in 2020.
Doctors said patients with influenza-like illnesses should be treated at once. A rise in body temperature, unusual fatigue, headache, sore throat, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, and vomiting are the major indicators of H1N1, they said.
Dr Ashutosh Shukla, senior director-internal medicine, Max Hospital, Gurgaon, said, “Patients with swine flu typically get a fever, which is associated with chills, along with cough, sore throat, and running nose. They may also have generalised body aches and restlessness. Swine flu is usually transmitted through droplets. The diagnosis of swine flu is done through a swab just like any other flu, there's a throat swab and nasal swab. Unlike other viruses, medication like Oseltamivir is used for the treatment of swine flu patients.”
The first case of swine flu in the city was reported in 2009, the year several parts of the country saw an outbreak.