8 swine flu cases detected in Kolhan, health department on alert

JAMSHEDPUR: The district health department is on the alert mode after eight swine flu cases were detected in Kolhan on Wednesday. Five were reported from Steel City and three from the adjoining district of Seraikela-Kharswan. All the eight patients are currently undergoing treatment at Tata Main Hospital.

Civil surgeon Sahir Pal has said that the samples of the 20 suspected cases of swine flu have been sent to the state-run Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College and Hospital for a test. "We have asked the hospitals not to delay in getting the serum samples of the suspected cases tested," Pal added.

The hospitals have also been asked to keep their infrastructural facilities ready for treating such patients, he said.

Of the eight patients, three are minors - aged 5,8 and 12. The rest are between 34-79 age group. Barring a five-year-old girl, the remaining patients are men.

Out of the five cases that have been reported from Steel City, two are from Mango and one each from Kadma, Sakchi and Agrico.