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Pakistan: 3 Suspected Human Bird Flu Deaths
[March 02, 2006]
City hospitals on alert
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/03/02/1424055.htm
The Nation (Pakistan) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)LAHORE, FEB 28 (THE NATION) - The hospitals in the city are already on their guard amidst reports of traces of bird flu in NWFP, arranging to deal any emergency, taking all the cautions in tackling with the patients. The hospitals preparedness, in the face of reports of infected birds, was amply demonstrated when a cloth merchant died here of pneumonia manifesting bird flu-like symptoms at a local private hospital. Rashid Ali, 25, a resident of Gujranwala and the son of a cloth merchant, was admitted to a private hospital on February 26 where he was treated for two days, but died on February 28."He was fine and talking to us till 12 noon. We left him in the ICU, but at 4 pm, the doctors told us that he is dead.
We have been told by the staff that he had died at about 2:15 pm," said Aamir, a close relative of the deceased. He had been kept in complete isolation. The body was put in a big plastic bag while all the staff members were wearing gloves, gowns and masks. Blood samples of the patient had been sent to the National Institute of Health (Islamabad), and the report is still awaited.
During the last 11 days, Rashid Ali is the third person of the same family, who had died. On February 17, his 19-year-old brother Sajid Ali had died of acute pneumonia while their mother is said to have died of the same disease on February 24. Abdul Qayyum, one of their relatives, confirmed this. When asked whether the hospital gave any instruction regarding pre-burial rituals, he said there were no specified instructions.
Meanwhile, Director General Health Services Punjab Dr Aslam Chaudhry, in a circular to principals and Medical Superintendents of teaching hospitals and EDOs (Health), has said, in order to meet any emergency in case of occurring of the Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in the province, and make arrangements for the items Zip Gowns (Disposable), Latex Gloves (Disposable), Goggles and Viral Transport Medium (VTM) for the safety of health care workers.
OUR GUJRANWALA CORRESPONDENT adds: EDO (Health) Dr Zafar Iqbal Khan Niazi has ruled out the presence of bird flu in Gujranwala, and said the claim of a man stating that his wife and two sons died because of bird flu is wrong.
Reportedly, the wife of a local trader Liaquat Ali got flu a couple of weeks ago. Both the mother and son Sajid Ali were referred to a hospital in Lahore where they died within two days. Rashid is also said to have caught the same infection.
These deaths have caused panic in Mohalla Faisalabad and nearby vicinities. Liaquat Ali told that after first two deaths, he informed the health authorities about the outbreak of bird flu."But no one bothered to visit the area," he said, adding that doctors did not reveal the real cause of their deaths. However, EDO Dr Zafar Iqbal said the doctors were trying to find out the cause of the deaths, and after their reports, something definite would be said.
City hospitals on alert
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/03/02/1424055.htm
The Nation (Pakistan) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)LAHORE, FEB 28 (THE NATION) - The hospitals in the city are already on their guard amidst reports of traces of bird flu in NWFP, arranging to deal any emergency, taking all the cautions in tackling with the patients. The hospitals preparedness, in the face of reports of infected birds, was amply demonstrated when a cloth merchant died here of pneumonia manifesting bird flu-like symptoms at a local private hospital. Rashid Ali, 25, a resident of Gujranwala and the son of a cloth merchant, was admitted to a private hospital on February 26 where he was treated for two days, but died on February 28."He was fine and talking to us till 12 noon. We left him in the ICU, but at 4 pm, the doctors told us that he is dead.
We have been told by the staff that he had died at about 2:15 pm," said Aamir, a close relative of the deceased. He had been kept in complete isolation. The body was put in a big plastic bag while all the staff members were wearing gloves, gowns and masks. Blood samples of the patient had been sent to the National Institute of Health (Islamabad), and the report is still awaited.
During the last 11 days, Rashid Ali is the third person of the same family, who had died. On February 17, his 19-year-old brother Sajid Ali had died of acute pneumonia while their mother is said to have died of the same disease on February 24. Abdul Qayyum, one of their relatives, confirmed this. When asked whether the hospital gave any instruction regarding pre-burial rituals, he said there were no specified instructions.
Meanwhile, Director General Health Services Punjab Dr Aslam Chaudhry, in a circular to principals and Medical Superintendents of teaching hospitals and EDOs (Health), has said, in order to meet any emergency in case of occurring of the Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in the province, and make arrangements for the items Zip Gowns (Disposable), Latex Gloves (Disposable), Goggles and Viral Transport Medium (VTM) for the safety of health care workers.
OUR GUJRANWALA CORRESPONDENT adds: EDO (Health) Dr Zafar Iqbal Khan Niazi has ruled out the presence of bird flu in Gujranwala, and said the claim of a man stating that his wife and two sons died because of bird flu is wrong.
Reportedly, the wife of a local trader Liaquat Ali got flu a couple of weeks ago. Both the mother and son Sajid Ali were referred to a hospital in Lahore where they died within two days. Rashid is also said to have caught the same infection.
These deaths have caused panic in Mohalla Faisalabad and nearby vicinities. Liaquat Ali told that after first two deaths, he informed the health authorities about the outbreak of bird flu."But no one bothered to visit the area," he said, adding that doctors did not reveal the real cause of their deaths. However, EDO Dr Zafar Iqbal said the doctors were trying to find out the cause of the deaths, and after their reports, something definite would be said.
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