7 more suspected H1N1 cases in state

SURAT/VADODARA: Swine flu scare across Gujarat has spread further with at least seven people being hospitalized with symptoms suspected to be that of the deadly H1NI virus infection. While four persons were referred to Surat's New Civil Hospital, a patient each in Vadodara, Vapi and Anand were also put under observation. The number of patients with symptoms similar to that of swine flu in NCH has shot to 20 since the last few days.

From NRI-rich Anand district, a 25-year-old woman was shifted to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital for further treatment after she complained of high fever, throat ache, body ache, headache, diarrhoea since the last seven days. "Her diarrhoea has worsened and I strongly suspect this to be a case of H1N1 virus. Meanwhile, both Petlad and Nadiad civil hospitals should have physicians to treat such patients as maximum number of NRIs in Gujarat come from Anand and Kheda districts," said Dr Shailesh Shah of Anand's Surgicare Hospital, where she was admitted first.

In Vapi, a 14-year-old girl was brought to a private hospital on Monday morning with symptoms of swine flu. The girl is a student of a school in Pune and had returned home to Vapi as her school was closed. Her family decided to bring the girl for a check-up at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and get all the tests done here. According to sources, her parents have also got the infection. It is likely that the entire family will be admitted to civil hospital.

In Vadodara, too, a youth in Gotri was under observation at SSG Hospital. Meanwhile, condition of the three who have tested positive for H1N1 is said to be improving.