1 Mar 2015, Kathmandu - The total number of people who tested positive for H1N1 virus, popularly known as swine flu, has reached 31 as of Friday. A large majority of the cases, 23, are from the Valley.
According to Dr Geeta Shakya, director of the National Public Health Laboratory, four cases
were found in Pokhara and as many others in Bharatpur. Over 60 samples were tested over two days in the state-run facility.
The rising number of cases has alerted the public as the disease has already taken more than 900 lives in neighbouring India. Earlier, some of those tested positive had a recent history of traveling to India, suggesting they might have contracted the virus there.
With the growing threat, hospitals from across the country have begun sending samples to the NPHL for tests. Of the 47 samples collected from the Valley between February 15 and February 24, nine tested positive for the virus while over 100 cases were examined in the past four days.
Dr Shakya said the results of the more than 100 additional samples are expected on Sunday. “Many more hospitals are now sending in samples for test,” said Dr Shakya.
She added that around four samples were also sent from Dhangadhi in the past three days. However, the results were negative.
“We are overwhelmed by the number of people coming for a test,” said Dr Shakya, asking people not to panic. “Elderly people, children and people with low immunity should worry. For others, a week’s rest will be a cure.”
Dr Shakya said people aged between 25-40 years are showing up voluntarily at the NPHL to test for the flu while the samples sent by the hospitals are either of children or the elderly.
Dr Bharat Pradhan, director of Kathmandu Model Hospital, said they have sent samples of the entire staff who took care of a patient who was diagnosed with H1N1 influenza last week. “We want to make sure that they are safe,” said Dr Pradhan.
As the cases of H1N1 influenza surge, source at the EDCD say they have tami-flu available to cater to around 500 people.
“The medicine was in surplus when there was no need. Now that more hospitals and health institutions are demanding the medicine we are likely to run out of supplies in a few days,” said the source.
Dr Baburam Marasini, director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, said they have requested the World Health Organisation to supply additional flu medicine. He said the drug will arrive in a week. Cough, fever, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chills, vomiting or diarrhoea are common symptoms of swine flu. If a person develops one of these symptoms, s/he should see a doctor immediately. Doctors say the fatality from the disease is only around one percent.
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