India: 25 swine flu ‘suspects’ of same family kept in isolation

Punjab Newsline Network

Monday, 05 October 2009

LUDHIANA: Twenty-five persons of a joint family that resides in Sarabha Nagar have been identified as the suspects of swine flu, Rapid Response Team (RRT) formed to deal with the Swine Flu cases act rapidly and put each of the family members on preventive medication followed by complete isolation. The family members were constantly in touch with their NRI relative, who was tested positive for H1N1 virus on September 3 at the PGI in Chandigarh. The relative of the family had come from Canada for attending his cousin’s wedding but got sick soon after landing in the city. The NRI had attended a wedding at Kothari resorts on September 30, which had a gathering of almost 1,000 people. Going by the incubation period of Swine Flu, which is five to 10 days, those showing symptoms should go in for swab sample test. However, district epidemiologist, Dr GP Mangla, stated that they had made the lists of persons who came in direct contact with the person infected by H1N1 virus and added that things were under control. The file of all above details has been prepared and sent to the state nodal official for Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme Dr Deepak Bhatia in Chandigarh. The swab samples of two servants and three members of the family have been sent to the PGI for test. District epidemiologist Dr GP Mangla said: “Having identified the cluster of suspects, we in order to take precautionary measures have sent five samples for testing. The reports will be available by tomorrow evening,” Dr Mangla added.