Swine flu scare in Manipur, 3 test positive, one dead

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

IMPHAL, March 13: The Health Minister of Manipur Phunzathang Tonsing informed the Manipur Assembly today that three persons have been found to be positive of swine flu. Out of them two persons had died. The third person is under treatment.

He said that swab samples of six persons had been sent for laboratory testing outside the state. The results of the three positive persons were received by the health department.

Following these controversial deaths there were blistering criticisms from all sides and the garrulous health director Okram Iomcha is not available now. He has been saying that there is enough medicine stock and all preparations like isolation wards with ventilator and other facilities are available. However the husband of one woman found that there is no such medicine in Regiol Institute of Medical Sciences which is under the union health ministry. The doctors attending to the woman advised her to get treated in some private hospitals. The government also kept silent on the alarming situation.

There is already stigma on the children of the dead persons. Even the drivers of the school vans are refusing to drop the children to the schools. There has been a media blitz by the health department involving huge expenses. However the people became aware of the problem only when these deaths had happened. Most of the people are using masks in the streets and crowded places. Even shop keepers are using hand gloves to take money from the customers.

There is reasoble ground to fear that more patients may die in the coming days.