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Four of a family feared to be gripped by H1N1, Bhiwandi sounds alert

BHIWANDI: Four people of a family from Bhiwandi suspected to be suffering from swine flu have been admitted to two hospitals. The cases have put the health department of the civic body on alert.


The Bhiwandi-Nizampura Municipal Corporation organised a medical camp in Samad Nagar locality in Bhiwandi and its surrounding areas after the four suspected cases came to light.



The four family members were identified as Vakar Innulah Shaikh (40), Hina Vakar Shaikh (22), Neha Vakar Shaikh (21) and Umar Vakar Shaikh (13). Vakar is a businessman who resides with his family in Samad Nagar.

Of the four patients, three have been admitted to the state-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa while one who is serious is admitted to Saifee Hospital in Mumbai.

On Friday after they were suspected to have swine flu and Vakar's health worsened he was shifted to Saifee Hospital in Mumbai.

Following the incident, the local civic body chief, Manohar Hire, convened an urgent meeting of the civic health department and asked officials to be on alert. Hire also instructed the health team to take all preventive measures like medical camps and also instructed them to spray insecticides in the area.

On Saturday, at a medical camp, a team of doctors screened locals. The civic health department has also appealed to citizens to pay attention to hygiene. "They have been told not to spit in public and to contact the nearest health centre if they have any symptoms of swine flu," said a health official.

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