Swine flu cases rise to 34 in Ghaziabad

GHAZIABAD: Health officials in the city said the pace of swine flu infections has not dropped as the number of patients who tested positive for the H1N1 virus to 34 on Monday. Doctors though said no fatalities have occurred since the death of Nirupama Shrivastava on February 16.
Among those confirmed as infected with H1N1 is Jyoti Sethi, wife of rally driver Gagan Sethi, who was admitted to a city hospital on Sunday.Doctors said family members of the infected persons have not yet contracted the disease. Civic health chief Dr A Mishra said, "Family members, including paramedical personnel, have to be as careful as the affected, to avoid the flu."
Dr Mishra said tests are being carried out internationally to find out if a lack of vitamin D makes a person more susceptible to the virus. "We will continue carrying out tests on patients and their family after the spate of infections stems. We'll be comparing bone density of swine flu victims with that of their family members. But, these things are at an experimental stage. Family members of patients should take all precautions as advised by their doctors," said Dr Mishra.
The doctor further explained that natural immunity may vary between family members.
"That is why only some of those who are exposed to a patient contract the infection, while others do not."