SuspectedH1N1 casualtytests negative

The 51 year-old man who was suspected to have died of swine flu at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on Thursday has
tested negative for the virus. On Friday, three reports, including that of a doctor, were received and all of them were negative. The H1N1 OPD at GMCH remained closed on Friday on account of Gandhi Jayanti.

There are four patients in the swine flu isolation ward including a five-year-old boy from Gittikhadan who was admitted today. He has been on high-flow oxygen and his condition is reported as serious. His swab has been taken and sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for testing.

Meanwhile, oseltamivir tablets have finally reached the designated city chemists. They are available at the Bombay Medical Stores, Sitabuldi. "As of now, drug is available under two brandnames NatFlu by Natco and Fluvir manufactured by Hetero", informed Krishna Nayak of Bombay Medical Store. Vasant Medical Store in Ramdaspeth is the other store from where the drug can be bought. Its owner Manoj Bholavar said, "Fluvir was the only brand available with us. We ask for the original prescription where we stamp the date, quantity of tablets sold, and the bill number; following all guidelines."

With the availability of these tablets, the workload on public hospitals will surely reduce, but it also opens up the danger of unnecessary consumption. "The tablets need to be used judiciously as there is a high risk virus developing resistance to it. So stringent guidelines must be followed," says Dr Arun Humne.