Lone lab for swine flu testing in AP

Tirupati: Although leaders from Chief Minister to district leaders boast of the State being fully equipped to tackle swine flu or any such viral diseases the ground reality seems to be different, with only one laboratory in the State.

The laboratory was set up in the Virology department of Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) and one isolation ward for the entire State was established in SVR Ruia Government General Hospital (SVRRGGH).

Around 76 samples were collected from January 13 to February 6 from all over the State and were tested in SVIMS and found 21 samples till Tuesday were positive.

In which, 18 patients took treatment in the hospitals including nine in SVRRGH and the remaining at CMC in Vellore and SVIMS.

With the shortage of testing centres, samples are sent to SVIMS or Hyderabad. As there is only on isolation ward in Tirupati, Swine flu patients from far off places like Vizianagaram are forced to come all the way to Ruia Hospital for treatment.

So far, two swine flu deaths were reported and 21 have contracted swine flu in this winter. The State government has failed to set up testing laboratories in the districts despite swine flu cases were often reported every year.

A testing centre was proposed in Kurnool is still to materialise revealing the apathy of the government. Four patients with swine flu were admitted in Ruia Hospital on Tuesday.

Of them, three women belong to Tirupati and another one from Prakasam district. Swine flu is more prevalent in Chittoor district compared to other districts because of its geographical location.

Doctors say that the incidence is more in the district as it is bordering with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka where the winter effect is high. People, who travel frequently to places like Coimbatore and Salem, are very prone to the virus.

The District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) Dr Vijaya Gowri is coordinating with SVIMS, SVRRGH and TTD Hospitals to educate and create awareness among people.

The DMHO has advised to people to postpone travelling and avoid visiting crowded places. She said that vaccination is being administered to the attendants of the patients and staff nurses and other medical staff.

In one case where the mother was diagnosed positive for swine flu, the virus spread to her child of one year age, she added. People having cold and cough should be cautious and get their samples tested, the DMHO said.

If the treatment is taken in the initial stage then the disease is absolutely curable, she said maintaining that medicines and other facilities are readily available.