6-yr-old tests positive for H1N1; fourth case in March

Even as the H1N1 patient admitted to Bharati Hospital and Medical College continues to be critical even after six days of admission, another swine flu positive patient has been admitted to Naidu Hospital. Two other swine flu positive cases have been reported, taking the total number of swine flu positive patients in Pune to four since March 5.

A six-year-old girl from Kharadi was admitted to Naidu Hospital on March 9. The baby  was referred to the infectious diseases hospital from a private hospital on suspicion of H1N1.

“The baby is in the isolation ward and stable,” said Dr Shyam Satpute, the medical officer at Naidu Hospital. The Pune Municipal Corporation records show that after a single positive case in October 2011, H1N1 has got reported after five months.

At Bharati Hospital, the 51-year-old autorickshaw driver residing at Katraj continues to be on ventilator support. “However, since there is no deterioration, we are hoping he’ll pull through,” said dean Dr Vivek Saoji.

Dr Chandrakant Satane, an officer at district H1N1 control cell, said other H1N1 cases include a pregnant woman at Chinchwad’s Aditya Birla Hospital and a patient taking Tamiflu on OPD basis at Command Hospital. Since April 2011, a total of 27 H1N1 positive cases have got reported.

“The pregnant woman has delivered a baby and is recovering, while the fourth patient wasn’t even admitted. Both are doing fine,” said Satane.

“We need to be alert as some population is yet to come in contact with virus,” said paediatrician Dr Sharad Agharkhedkar.
Physician Dr Vivek Billampelly said extra care should be taken as symptoms for both seasonal flu and swine flu are similar.