PGI doctor tests positive for swine flu

The city registered its ninth positive case of swine flu with a junior resident doctor at PGI testing positive. This is the second case of a resident doctor at PGI contracting swine flu. The doctor is undergoing treatment and has been administered Tamiflu,Health department officials said.

The results of 24 samples were received in Chandigarh on Friday—10 from NICD Delhi and 14 from the PGI’s newly functional testing lab in the department of virology. Twenty-three samples turned out to be negative barring that of the PGI resident doctor. City hospitals,however,received eight fresh cases of suspected H1N1,all reporting to the PGI’s screening centres. Their samples were collected and sent to the PGI lab. “A few samples are still pending in Delhi while the ones sent to the PGI lab are being tested within a day. The backlog is clearing fast now,” said a senior official. While nine positive cases have been reported,over 150 suspected cases have been reported here. Private lab now says it’s ready for H1N1 testing

Super Religare,meanwhile,announced its preparedness to carry out all Influenza-A viral tests including H1N1 at its facilities. “SRL has decided to offer the test at Rs 4,000 which is much lower than the perceived price indicators for the test. Government has been inspecting SRL labs to check their readiness in conducting the H1N1 tests,” said Dr Sanjeev Chaudhry,CEO,Super Religare.