Runner Sudha Singh's virus is H1N1, not Zika

BENGALURU: The state health department breathed a sigh of relief after middle-distance runner Sudha Singh tested negative for the Zika virus. Her blood samples had been sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, on Monday from Fortis Hospital, Nagarabhavi, where she is currently undergoing treatment. On Tuesday afternoon, her reports from Pune confirmed it wasn't Zika.
However, Sudha was diagnosed with H1N1 after her blood samples were tested by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences.Confirming the test reports, Karnataka surveillance officer (health and family welfare department) Dr Harshavardhan told TOI on Tuesday: "We are relieved the tests from the National Institute of Virology are negative. There is nothing to worry now. However, she tested positive for H1N1. We received both reports by Tuesday afternoon."
The surveillance officer also visited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Fortis Hospital on Tuesday along with a group of officials from the Karnataka government, urban health officials and an assistant director at the National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi, who had come to the city to check Sudha's condition.
"Sudha is well now and stable. She will be in the same hospital under the observation of two officials from the public health department and will be discharged in two days. Sudha's coach (Nikolai Snesarev) and his wife (who was the massage therapist of the middle and long distance runners at the Rio Olympics) will be under observation and given small doses of an antiviral drug to prevent them from picking up the infection. All SAI hostel inmates will be kept under surveillance of the health department and will be provided treatment if needed. A team of doctors from the public health department will be in regular touch with SAI," Dr Harshavardhan said.