Swine flu casts shadow of anxiety in the city

Doctors are doing everything they can to make sure that the matter doesn't get unwarranted hype until the test reports of suspected swine flu patients are out

Swine flu casts shadow of anxiety in the city

Doctors are doing everything they can to make sure that the matter doesn't get unwarranted hype until the test reports of suspected swine flu patients are out

After two suspected patients of swine flu were admitted in the isolation ward of Naidu Hospital yesterday, a sense of anxiety has gripped the entire city. The panel doctors who are treating the duo are doing everything they can to make sure that the matter doesn't get unwarranted hype until the test reports of suspected swine flu patients are out.

Mum's the word
The doctors aren't allowing the relatives of the duo to meet them and are tight-lipped about the identities of the patients. Dr Nitin Bilolikar, a surgeon at the Civil Hospital, said, "The two have come to the hospital to get their check-ups done. And as they complained of throat pain and fever, symptoms of all kinds of flu, we kept them in complete isolation as a precautionary measure."

Besides, he added, "We have sent their throat swab samples to the National Institute of Virology and their blood samples for routine check up." The report of the test for H1N1 virus is expected to come in today.

Swine flu suspects
The patients in question are residents of Pune and had arrived here from the US and Spain respectively. Aged 22 and 37, the two complained of fever and throat ache were rushed to the hospital.

While one went to Jehengir Hospital and was later directed to Naidu Hospital, the other directly went to Naidu Hospital.

The two have been kept under observation by a panel comprisingu00a0 eight to 10 doctors from the Civil Hospital, Naidu Hospital and Sassoon Hospital.

Besides, they have been kept in two separate rooms that are equipped with all the necessary medicines.