11 patients test positive for seasonal flu in Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi: According to data available with the district health department, to date, a total of 11 patients from Rawalpindi district have been confirmed positive for influenza A H1N1 2009 infection, known as seasonal flu from National Institute of Health.

It is important that the flu virus subtype known as A (H1N1), the same viral strain that caused the 2009 global influenza epidemic, has so far claimed as many as 24 lives in Multan however it did not cause any death in Rawalpindi district as has been claimed by district health office Rawalpindi.

The situation regarding spread of influenza A H1N1 infection is well under control in the district and so far the flu virus has not posed any serious threat to public health in the region, said District Health Officer Dr. Abdul Jabbar while talking to ‘The News’ on Thursday.

He added that as many as 33 suspected patients of the infection have been reported in various healthcare facilities in the district including the three teaching hospitals in town. Of the 33 suspects, the NIH confirmed 11 patients positive for influenza A H1N1 however all the patients have achieved complete cure, he said.

He, however, added that a confirmed patient of the infection who was taken to Holy Family Hospital (HFH) from Kohat with respiratory failure expired at the HFH. Data collected by ‘The News’ reveals that as many as three suspected cases of seasonal flu have been undergoing treatment at the HFH on Thursday while earlier a total of 23 suspects were admitted by the Department of Infectious Diseases (DID) at the HFH of which five were tested positive by the NIH.

The samples of the three suspected patients of influenza A H1N1 have been sent to the NIH for confirmatory tests, sad In-charge of infectious diseases ward at HFH Dr. Haroon while talking to ‘The News’.

He said the influenza A H1N1 is similar to common flu and is self-limiting in healthy persons. It may be life threatening for high risk groups including pregnant women, elderly, children and patients with chronic ailments, particularly with immune compromised conditions, he said.  

He, however, said that patients contracting seasonal flu must avoid going to quacks instead they should report at the nearest hospital in case of developing any complications. Majority of quacks administer steroidal drugs unnecessarily to patients and in case of a patient of influenza A H1N1, steroids may be deadly, said Dr. Haroon.