Post News Network
Bhubaneswar/Cuttack, Feb 3: While the state has been grappling with swine flu scare, a new victim was diagnosed positive for the ailment in the Capital city, Tuesday.
According to state director of public health Kailash Das, victim Sangeeta Patnaik (35), a pregnant woman, was diagnosed positive for swine flu. Of the five blood and swab samples sent to the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) at Dumduma in Bhubaneswar, one sample showed symptoms of the dreaded respiratory disease.
The patient was being treated in a private clinic and her condition is stated to be stable, the sources said. This takes the total number of swine flu cases reported in Orissa to six, a health department official said.
A senior doctor in Bhubaneswar was also tested positive of H1N1 virus Monday. The official said the doctor had visited Mumbai six days back before being hit by the virus. Sangeeta Patnaik, however, has no history of travel out of Bhubaneswar.
Meanwhile, the Cuttack city is yet to recover from the shock following the death of Bhubaneswar mayor’s cousin Aditya Narayan Jena (42) due to swine flu, Sunday.
Even as the victim was not a resident of Cuttack, his death at SCB Medical College and Hospital has brought to focus the millennium city for wrong reasons. “The fact that the victim died at a premier hospital of the state has unnerved us,” said Namocharan Mohanty, a resident of Link Road.
“Congestion, mismanagement and other reasons have contributed to an alarming rise in diseases in the city. Although swine flu has not spread its vicious tentacles in the city, I doubt whether the administration is prepared for the worst”, he said.
Dr Bhagirathi Pradhan, a resident of Mangalabag shared Mohanty’s concerns and said swine flu is yet to hit Cuttack hard but whether it can be tackled efficiently remains to be seen. “The fact that the disease is highly contagious is indeed worrying as overcrowding at SCB may pose an issue while handling patients afflicted with the killer disease”, he said.
Meanwhile, the emergency officer of SCB Medical College and Hospital said the hospital is well equipped to deal with swine flu cases. A special isolation ward has been set up at the hospital to treat patients who contract the disease, he added.
