Swine Flu Virus Maybe Heat Resistant, 2 More Cases Tested Positive In Hyderabad

By infecting two people the dreaded swine flu (H1N1) virus has sneaked into Hyderabad again. The doctors are worried as they think that the virus may have become heat-resistant. A 58-year-old woman from Motinagar and a 38-year-old man from Manikonda are the two latest swine flu victims. They were admitted into two corporate hospitals on July 24 and July 25 respectively with all the usual symptoms of fever, cough, body pain and weakness. Their swab samples tested positive at the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM). The two latest swine flu victims have a common link: travel.

"We are totally clueless. We do not know much about their relatives as their contact details have not been provided to us. While the female patient's mobile number has been listed, it was found to be not working. In the case of the male patient, the IPM has not provided any contact number," said a senior health officer in the surveillance department.

Dr G Srinivas Rao, special officer on swine flu and in-charge of the epidemic cell, said that it is the duty of the respective district health and medical officers (DMHOs) to track down H1N1 positive patients and their relatives.

Health experts are not sure as to whether swine flu has become resistant to heat. In the peak summer times when the temperature is above 40 degree Celsius in the city, Gandhi Hospital recorded six positive H1N1 cases, out of which two succumbed to the viral infection.

"Six positive cases, including two deaths, being reported during peak summer can mean only one thing: that the virus has now become heat resistant," said a senior doctor.

Source-Medindia