Agra: Two more cases of swine flu have been confirmed by the health department here. One of the patients is a 15-year-old girl of Etmadpur block. The other is a resident of Jhansi district. So far, 18 cases of swine flu have surfaced in Agra district. The health department has also started issuing notices to pathology labs, seeking details of suspected cases of swine flu.According to chief medical officer (CM0) Mukesh Vats, “On Monday, the microbiology lab at SN Medical College (SNMC) confirmed that two patients had tested positive for H1N1 virus. One of the patients is a 15-year-old girl who is undergoing treatment at home. For now, she is in a stable condition. Her family members are also being tested for swine flu. The patients is of a resident of Jhansi district. We had received the slide of the patient for lab testing.”Sources said swine cases are on the rise in the district. Private hospitals in the city are referring patients in critical condition to Delhi. Health department has no record of such patients. That is why private hospitals and laboratories have been asked to provide details of all suspected cases of swine flu.The health department does not accept reports of private centres regarding swine flu. Each of the suspected patient is tested for the H1N1 virus at the microbiology lab at SNMC.The CMO said “There are around 85 registered pathology centres in the city. We are issuing notices to all of them to provide details of all suspected cases of swine flu. These patients’ blood samples will be diagnosed at SNMC’s advanced microbiology lab. On confirmation of swine flu, patient will be immediately admitted for treatment in the isolation ward at SNMC or the district hospital.”According to an advisory by health authorities, swine flu patients have been divided in three categories. ‘Category A’ includes patients with symptoms of mild fever, cough, body ache, headache and loose motions. They do not need to get tested for swine flu and can be treated at home. ‘Category B’ patients include those with high fever and all other symptoms of ‘Category A’. These people, too, need not be tested for swine flu but can consume Tamiflu medicine after medical advice.‘Category C’ patients include those with symptoms of breathlessness, headache, drowsiness, low blood pressure, blood in cough, blue nails or increase in seriousness of an old and ongoing disease. This category of patients should get tested for swine flu and take medical advice if they test positive so as to follow proper regime of medicines.Health department also advised that to protect oneself from contracting swine flu, one must cover one’s nose and mouth in crowded areas, wash hands frequently with soap and water, avoid touching one’s eyes, nose or mouth and avoid contact with sick people. (With inputs from Ishita Bhatia from Meerut)

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