Samples taken from two kids sent to Lucknow for polio tests

Bihar government has sent samples taken from two children to Lucknow for laboratory tests amid suspicion of poliomyelitis, better known as polio, a viral disease that induces crippling paralysis among children. 

Health department officials said the two cases were from Baheri block in Darbhanga district, around 130 kilometres northeast from the state capital here. 

Two children had developed fever and severe weakness in limbs incapacitating them from walking. 

Confirming the incidents, state Health Secretary Anand Kishor said one child was one-year-old while the other was two years of age and that the kids seemed to be suffering from Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP). 

"We have sent samples from the two boys to Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow on February 20 and 21 for tests. The cases seem to be of AFP. The reports are expected to come in the next few days," Kishor said. 

However, AFP, as a medical condition is at times connected to polio disease. Bihar has not witnessed any case of polio since 2010. If the samples test positive for polio virus, it could be a major setback to India, which was declared polio-free in early 2014. The last reported polio case in the country was in West Bengal in January 2011. 

Playing down the situation as "not an alarming one", Kishor said around 10,000 to 12,000 such cases of AFP are sent for lab tests every year. 

"None of the samples have tested positive for polio virus till now. We are hopeful that in these two cases also the results will be negative," Kishor added. 

Polio virus spreads through infected faecal matter. It attacks the central nervous system in human body, crippling the victim. In severe cases it also leads to death of the child. 

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), at present polio disease incidence is limited to only three countries in the world - Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.

One more case of swine flu

LUCKNOW: Lucknow: Another swine flu case has cropped up in the city taking the toll of positive cases to 31. The young boy, five years old, has tested positive, as confirmed by chief medical officer SNS Yadav. A resident of Moti Jheel colony in Lucknow, the child's father is already undergoing treatment for swine flu at King George's Medical University (KGMU). 

The two patients have been sent into isolation at their residence in Aishbagh. The boy's father tested positive for the H1N1 virus on February 2. 

The CMO and health officials have asked people not to panic but take precautions against being infected by the virus. Medical superintendents have assured that all hospitals are prepared for the worst, with adequate stocks of Tamiflu, medical kits and isolation wards. 

As of now, two people have been reported to die due to the flu. A retired Army officer and the wife of a retired jawan had died of the H1N1 virus on January 9 and 13 respectively, at Command Hospital. 

31 swine flu cases in Lucknow

A 5-year-old boy in the city have tested positive for swine flu, taking the total number of cases to 31 in the state capital,a senior health official said today. 

Suyash Sharan, a resident of Aishbagh tested positive for HINI virus yesterday, Chief Medical Officer SNS Yadav said. 

With this, a total of 31 swine flu patients have been detected in Lucknow so far. 

Suyash's father Abhishek was tested positive for swine flu on February 2. 

A retired officer of the Indian Army died of H1N1 virus on January 9, while the wife of a retired jawan died on January 13 in the state capital

Lucknow: Three more test positive for swine flu, 30 cases detected in city

Lucknow: Three more persons in the city have tested positive for swine flu, taking the total number of cases to 30 in the state capital, a senior health official said today.

Kaushlya (55), a resident of Gomti Nagagr, Bimala Dwivedi (53), a resident of South City and Mrinal Majumdar (9), a resident of Aliganj, tested positive for H1N1 virus yesterday, Chief Medical Officer SNS Yadav said.

With this, a total of 30 swine flu patients have been detected in Lucknow so far. A retired army officer died of H1N1 virus on January 9, while the wife of a retired jawan died on January 13 in the state capital.

At least 5 more test positive for swine flu

Five new cases of swine flu were detected on Thursday. These include one PGI staff member and two family members of another PGI staffer. Besides, two children of a swine flu patient in Alambagh also tested positive.

The children, as well as others who tested positive, have all been advised isolation.

Meanwhile, two swine flu patients admitted to a private hospital in Alambagh were referred to PGI on Thursday as their condition became serious.

Till now, 17 cases of swine flu have been reported in Lucknow.

The first two patients diagnosed positive for the H1N1 infection had died during treatment. Six more from the family of a contractual staff at PGI were reported from Vikas Nagar; one patient reported from Gomti Nagar was admitted to Lohia hospital; and two were admitted to a private hospital in Alambagh. One patient who tested positive is untraceable, as the address and phone number given by the parents was incorrect.

The condition of majority of the patients is stated to be stable, with the exception of the two referred to PGI.

Doctors said people should not panic, as Influenza A H1N1, or swine flu infection was selflimiting. If diagnosed at an early stage and given proper care and medicine, the patient could get well soon. “Have plenty of water and healthy diet to keep immunity high. This would keep you safe from H1N1, which is just like any other flu,” said Dr Mridul Mehrotra of the Lucknow Association of Practising Pathologists and Microbiologists.

All government hospitals have the facility of screening patients with flu and providing testing facilities for swine flu in cases where symptoms are present. The Lucknow chief medical officer has asked all hospitals to remain on alert.

One more swine flu case in Lucknow; total reaches 12

One more swine flu case was reported in the state capital today, with this the total number of people affected by the virus in the city this year has risen to 12, a senior health officer said here. 

"One patient at Awadh hospital has been detected with Swine flu today. With this the total number of patients has reached 12," Chief Medical Officer Lucknow S N Yadav said. 

He said that one patient, who was detected with Swine flu yesterday, has been shifted to Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute Medical Sciences. 

"While condition of patient detected today is stable, condition of one at SGPGIMS is serious," he added. 

The CMO has also issued a notice to the private hospital that it has not informed the department about the two patients being treated there. 

"You have not given such an important information the department, then why not further action should be taken to cancel your registration," the notice issued to the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital said. 

The swine flu has claimed two lives in the city this year.