Jalandhar is witnessing a rise in Swine Flu cases, with 11 cases currently reported in the district, according to District Epidemiologist Dr Shobhna Bansal.
One death has also been reported as a suspected Swine Flu-related death, although health officials have clarified that the exact cause of death has not been confirmed.
Dr Bansal said the deceased had tested positive for Swine Flu, but it could not be established with certainty that the infection caused the death, as the patient was around 85 years old and had other health-related factors, so it made it difficult to attribute the death solely to the infection.
The latest rise in cases comes after a period of relatively low reporting in the district and according to Dr Bansal, Jalandhar is seeing this level of Swine Flu activity after around three to four years. In the past few years, only one or two cases were being registered annually.
The increase in cases has also raised concerns about preparedness at the Civil Hospital, and during a visit to the hospital on Monday afternoon, patients were seen standing in queues at the registration counter, OPD and outside the laboratory. Many people were reportedly without masks, while social distancing was also not being followed.
A situation involving an infected mother and her children also highlighted concerns around infection-control practices. A 38-year-old woman who had tested positive for Swine Flu was admitted to the isolation ward, and her seven-year-old daughter had also tested positive, while her one-year-old son was found lying on the same bed with the mother.
As per reports, a separate room had been arranged for the woman's family members and her daughter, and they would be prevented from visiting the infected woman. Hospital staff have also been assigned duties to create awareness among patients and visitors about precautions against the infection.
As a precautionary measure, medication is being administered to the woman's one-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter because of their exposure to the Swine Flu-positive mother.
The Health Department has also started contact tracing in areas where positive cases have been reported, and a team visited Rudka Kalan village to trace five people from the household and neighbourhood who had reportedly come in contact with the infected woman, however, the team could not conduct the survey because the house was locked. Officials said the team would return on Tuesday to complete the survey.
With the number of suspected and confirmed cases increasing, the Civil Hospital has strengthened its arrangements to handle a possible rise in patients.
A 14-bed ward for suspected Swine Flu cases has been set up on the second floor of the trauma centre. Samples from five suspected patients admitted to the ward were collected on Monday and sent to Amritsar for testing, along with this the hospital has also established a dedicated Flu Corner for patients reporting symptoms such as cough and cold. The facility is intended to reduce crowding in the regular OPD. Patients with common symptoms can receive medication there, while samples of those suspected of having Swine Flu can also be collected.
At present, a four-bed isolation ward and the 14-bed suspected-case ward are operational. Officials have also kept a provision for six additional beds on the ground floor of the trauma centre and these beds can be made available if patient numbers increase.
Government laboratories are responsible for confirming Swine Flu cases, while private hospitals may treat patients based on their symptoms, samples requiring confirmation are being sent to government laboratories.
Samples from critically ill patients, particularly those with chronic diseases, are also being sent to Amritsar for testing. Health officials are continuing to monitor suspected cases and contacts of positive patients as part of efforts to limit further transmission.
Dr Bansal has advised people to follow basic precautions to reduce the risk of infection, and these include regular handwashing and sanitising frequently touched objects, such as mobile phones and remote controls.
People have also been advised to avoid crowded places where possible and wear masks, particularly in situations where maintaining distance from others is difficult. The Health Department's advice comes as Jalandhar records a rise in cases after several years of relatively low Swine Flu activity, and officials are continuing surveillance and contact tracing, while the Civil Hospital has kept additional beds and testing arrangements ready in case the number of suspected or confirmed patients increases.
