LAHORE: The first case of swine flu in Lahore was reported from a private healthcare facility on Wednesday.

Imran Salahuddin, 35, was brought to the Doctors’ Hospital with symptoms of flu, high fever, cough and headache from his Bhatti Gate residence some three days ago.

“The patient had developed upper respiratory chest infection and other symptoms of H1N1. His blood samples were sent to the National Institute of Health in Islamabad which confirmed he was suffering from swine flu,” said a duty doctor while adding the patient was ‘out of danger.’

A Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department official said standard operating procedures (SOPs) had already been sent to all the tehsil and district headquarters hospitals to manage H1N1 patients. Directions have also been issued for the establishment of separate wards for suspected patients of H1NI,” he said.

An awareness campaign has been launched in Bhatti Gate area in particular and adjoining localities in general.

To a question, the official said so far 40 cases of suspected swine flu had been reported. However, the blood sample of only one patient has been tested positive.

The official advised the people to avoid crowded places, wash their hands frequently and consult doctors if they observed symptoms of the disease.

“Fever, cough and sore throat are the most common symptoms. Some patients may have headache, running nose and difficulty in breathing, nausea, fatigue and chill, joint and muscle pain, shortness of the breath along with fever,” said the official while adding the disease was manageable in early stages.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2017