Swine Flu in J&K

7 more samples airlifted to NICD, testing labs in twin capital cities to take little longer

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

Tribune News Service

JAMMU, August 13:

Even as Technical Education Minister RS Chib took stock of the surveillance center and isolation ward for the H1N1 virus at Yatri Niwas on the banks of Tawi River, blood samples of seven more persons having symptoms of suspected swine flu were airlifted today to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in New Delhi taking the total number to 34 since July 10.

We would get the reports of 19 persons probably by tomorrow, Medical Superintendent of Government Medical College, Dr Ramesh Gupta told The Tribune.It may be stated here out of 34 samples one of a 22- year old girl from Nanak Nagar was tested positive.Though seven blood samples were airlifted to the NICD, we await reports of 19 persons that may reach us by tomorrow, added Dr Gupta. State epidemiologist Dr RS Charak said, blood samples of seven more persons were sent to the NICD today taking the total number to 34.Technical Education Minister RS Chib along with Dr Charak and Chief Medical Officer Dr Shahid Mughal today visited the Yatri Niwas, base camp for the Amarnath pilgrims on the extreme corner of the city on the banks of Tawi River.Chib took stock of the arrangements made there to tackle the swine flu.Health authorities converted the base camp into a makeshift surveillance center for the H1N1 virus besides establishing an isolation ward and an OPD so as to keep a check on the contagious virus.Earlier, isolation ward and the OPD were set up at the overcrowded Government Medical College (GMC) where the virus might have caused a pandemic.Meanwhile, official sources told The Tribune that to expedite the process of testing blood samples, proposed labs in twin capital cities may take some more time.In Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura where we have sufficient infrastructure, the testing lab can be set up within a fortnight, provided we get sufficient financial assistance, they said.However, in Jammu where we lack requisite infrastructure we need more money compared to SKIMS and hence it may take a little longer here in the winter capital, they added.Sources also said that after union government authorized some private labs to conduct the test, name of Dr Lal Path Lab in twin capital cities was under active consideration of the state government.But before authorizing Dr Lal Path Lab to conduct the tests, we have to ensure that it has all the requisite equipments and facilities, they added.However, in private labs a single test for the swine flu costs Rs 10,000 and only rich strata of the state can afford it.Ends