12 August,2009 07:10 AM IST | | Madhusudan Maney
To add to the woes of swine flu panic, reports now say we've run out of H1N1 test kits at NIMHANS
Bangalore is slowly beginning to panic as NIMHANS has reportedly run out of H1N1 test kits.
Over 300 samples of suspected swine flu cases from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, Victoria Hospitalu00a0 and NIMHANS are lying unconfirmed.
Dr Shashidhar Buggi, director of RGICD said, "We are unable to confirm the cases because NIMHANS, where we are supposed to send the samples, has exhausted the testing kits. It is becoming difficult for us because every day hundreds are coming to get tested. Now we have started collecting samples of only those patients who have the symptoms of H1N1 virus attack like breathing problem, throat infection and fever for a long period."
He gave the example of a doctor who came with symptoms of H1N1 and brought his entire family for a screening. "But we took only his sample and sent for tests. The result was negative so we did not do the tests for the rest of the family members."
No results yet
However, there are several others who haven't been lucky enough to get the results yet.
Rajesh Kumar, a patient who had given his samples last week said, "I have been coming here for the last four days to get my result but I have not got it so far. Every time I come here, they ask me to come the next day. I don't know how many people are returning daily without getting their results. My cough and cold is still there but I don't know whether my case is positive or negative. I don't know how many more days I will have to wait for the result."
An airhostess who also came to get herself tested returned disappointed and worried. "I have been coming here for four days, too. Today I was told to do further investigations and was advised to take a chest X-ray. Accordingly I got it done and am returning home without any confirmation."
While their fears may be valid, most others' aren't. People are panicking more because of the vast media coverage, feel doctors.
"Even those who have common flu symptoms are sent to us," complained Dr Buggi. Satish Kamat had been standing in the queue from the morning to get tested.
"I am still awaiting my turn to get checked. In between, a doctor after speaking to me said that I have not been infected by H1N1 virus. How is it possible to say that the virus has not infected me without testing?
There should be more counters for investigation because people have to stand in the queues for a long time."
