Second swine flu case in State
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 29 2010: Along with detecting the second Swine flu case in Manipur, the State Health Services Department has reportedly stepped up its measures to control spread of the influenza spread by H1N1 strain of the virus all the more.

However, the isolation ward for the affected people being set up in JN Hospital, Porompat is so deplorable that instead of doing anything good it appears it would aggravate condition of the patient.

Talking to The Sangai Express, State Nodal Officer (Swine Flu) Dr Th Bhubonchandra informed that the test result on the nasal and throat swab samples collected from a lady patient who returned from attending a conference on HIV/AIDS at Bangkok, Thailand on January 23, has been confirmed positive of Swine flu by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi.

Shabby condition of a room supposed to be the isolation ward.

Following positive confirmation of the test result, Tamiflu has been provided to the patient and the health condition of all her family members are being observed closely by the doctors, Dr Bhubonchandra conveyed, adding along with detection of the second Swine flu case, State Health Services would be stepping up preventive measures all the more.

Though the Union Health Ministry has notified for stopping screening of the passengers returning from foreign trips at all the airports of the country with effect from January 31, at Tulihal Airport Imphal it would continue, the State Nodal Officer affirmed.

It may be recalled here that the first Swine flu case in the State was detected on a fencing player returning from Singapore in July last year.

Now the question, inspite of the State Govt deploying a medical team at the airport for screening the passengers returning from foreign trips, is how the lady patient in question had been allowed to return home without being screened.

After receiving the report of second Swine flu case in the State, this reporter inspected the isolation ward at JN Hospital.

Located near the ward where Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on a fast unto death agitation demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, is being kept confined, the room that is being served as the isolation ward was found in a deplorable condition with no adequate electric light and leakage signs all over.

The floor of the room was also found wet, perhaps from recent moping with phenyl on receipt of information about the second Swine flu case.

Although it is difficult to predict when Swine flu cases may be reported, there is also visible signs of the room remaining closed most of the time.

Admitting that the condition of the room serving as isolation mark is not up to the mark, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, nonetheless, asserted all the necessary apparatus for treatment of Swine flu patients are being kept ready by the hospital.

Meanwhile, in connection with detection of second Swine flu case in the State a statement issued by the Director of Health Services Dr W Motilal today said that on January 25, 2010 at about 10 am, a lady from Elangbam Leikai, Imphal voluntarily sought medical check up for suspect of Swine flu at JN Hospital.

She gave history of travelling to Bangkok, Thailand from January 20 to 23.The attending physician on suspicion of Swine flu collected nasopharyngeal swab from her and was prescribed treatment with Tamiflu for five days.

The nasopharyngeal swab collected from the lady patient was sent to NCDC (formerly NICD), Delhi on Jan 27.According to the official communication from NCDC, she was tested positive of Swine flu.

Thus, she became the second positive case in the State since July 2009.Both the cases are imported from foreign countries.

The lady patient is presently at home with all home isolation protocols and along with chemotherapy.

Her immediate close contacts (four persons) at home, though symptoms free are being given chemoprophylaxis with Tamiflu for 10 days.

Other known co-passengers as identified by the lady patient are symptom free till today, the Director said, while informing that in view of this second positive case of Swine flu in the State, the proposed withdrawal from Ist February of the screening of the incoming passengers by medical team at the Imphal Airport has been deferred until further orders.