Assam: 5 swine flu cases in Barak valley, SMCH Principal urges people not to panic

Emergence of 5 swine flu cases in the Barak valley in the past few days has triggered concern among the mass. All the patients were admitted to the Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) out of which 3 are still undergoing treatment.

SMCH Principal Bhaskar Gupta spoke to Northeast Live in details about swine flu cases being reported from different parts of the Barak valley.

Gupta informed, “As per our record in last 15 days 5 patients with influenza came to SMCH, which eventually came to be swine flu positive. The test was done in SMCH and the results were swine flu positive. Out of these 5 cases, 4 are from Cachar and 1 case was from Hailakandi district. Out of the 5 patients, 3 are still undergoing treatment in SMCH, one patient has already recovered from swine flu and has been discharged.”

Significantly, SMCH Principal Bhaskar Gupta said that one case in which a minor girl was infected with the virus was taken away from the hospital against medical advice.

“A minor, one and a half year old girl from Hailakandi, her condition was little bit critical and she was advised to be put on ventilator, but the kin of the patient refused and against medical advice, they took away the patient. After that what happened is not known to us, but till now in Silchar Medical College, no patient has expired due to swine flu,” Gupta added.

Asked as to how the cases were identified, SMCH Principal said, “Actually swine flu is basically like a influenza type of presentation, so in doubtful cases we send the samples for RTPCR tests, and with this test we are able to identify or distinguish swine flu.”

However, the SMCH Principal has allayed apprehensions prevailing in the minds of the people, stating that conditions are not so severe like COVID.

“People of Barak valley have nothing to panic about, because swine flu is not severe like COVID. SMCH has got adequate medical infrastructure to face any kind of swine flu related episodes. Our doctor team is always alert and ready,” the SMCH Principal said.