Meerut: Five fresh cases of swine flu surfaced in Meerut on Thursday, taking the total number of people diagnosed with the disease since the onset of this year to 41, a figure which is highest in Uttar Pradesh. In December, 18 cases of the flu had surfaced in the district, a number which suggests that the disease is spreading fast in the region.The district microbiology laboratory at the government medical college here is flooded with patients who are queuing anxiously for the test. Entire families are rushing to the laboratory for the test even though they do not have the symptoms. It has prompted the UP health department to issue an advisory to clear misconception on the flu.“On Thursday, five more cases of swine flu were reported in Meerut. With this, a total of 41 cases have surfaced this year. However, people should not panic and don’t go for tests to the microbiology lab even when they do not have symptoms,” said Meerut chief medical officer Dr Raj Kumar. In January alone, 153 patients were tested at the laboratory, which turned away hundreds of people because they did not have any symptoms.Dr Amit Garg, head of the department, microbiology, Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Medical College, said: “People should not unnecessarily panic. Normal cough, cold and fever can be treated at home and there is no need to get it tested.”According to the advisory of the health department, Category A includes patients with symptoms of mild fever, cough, body ache, head ache and loose motion and they need not get tested. They can be cured 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, head ache, drowsiness, low blood pressure, blood in cough or blue nails. They also have the symptoms of Category A and B.Patients of Category C should get tested for swine flu and take medical advice if tested positive.

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