India Swine Flu: Three more suspected swine flu cases from Bhopal

BHOPAL: With three more samples of suspected swine flu cases from Bhopal on Saturday, the number of total number of samples collected in the state has gone up to 16. Of the three new samples, two are of children.

"A 6-month-old baby and an adult have been admitted to Hamidia Hospital and another suspect is being treated at JK hospital," said chief medical and health officer Dr Pankaj Shukla.

"The 3-year-boy admitted to JK Hospital is suffering from lung infection," he added. The two children are being given crushed Tamiflu tablets, said Dr Shukla.

On Saturday, the district health authorities collected swine flu samples from Hamidia Hospital, JK Hospital and LBS Hospital. This year, the first swine flu death was reported on March 28. Ideally, children should be given Tamiflu syrup, something which is unavailable anywhere in the state, said a medical practioner.

The deceased and swine flu suspect Sia Bai, 50, was referred from the government hospital at Begumganj after abnormally high blood pressure.

"The patients showed symptoms of pneumonia and difference of opinion existed whether she had swine flu," said Dr Bupendra Shrivastava of the LBS hospital. The patient died two days later.

Blaming the private hospital for negligence, district epidemiologist Dr Rashmi Jain said, "We called them a number of times for collecting the swine flu kit, but the LBS hospital personnel only turned up after 2pm on Friday."

The sample of the deceased was collected 24 hours after her death on Wednesday.

Delay in tests alleged

Even as the swine flu scare continues, questions are being raised over the alleged delay in carrying out test of samples by health authorities.

A day after suspected swine flu death, sample of Sai Bai was collected on Saturday. Her report is still awaited. The sample was collected 24 hours after her death. The delay is being attributed to the non-availability of swine flu kit

Sources in LBS hospital, where the swine flu suspect died, said the district epidemiologist did not entertain their request for the swine flu test, a claim refuted by district epidemiologist Dr Rashmi Jain. Dr Jain alleged that the kit was not collected by the hospital in spite of repeated calls.