First Swine flu detected person in Pune talks about his illness

IT professional Avinash Khanna (name changed) was the first person in Pune and the second in the state to get swine flu. His 15 minutes of fame shared with Ketan Ranga

First Swine flu detected person in Pune talks about his illness

IT professional Avinash Khanna (name changed) was the first person in Pune and the second in the state to get swine flu. His 15 minutes of fame shared with Ketan Ranga

What did you do when you were told you were positive?
I was more worried about my parents and people who came in touch with me. I told them to get themselves checked, and luckily all of them tested negative.

What happened in the quarantine ward?
Doctors checked me regularly. I was completely isolated and not allowed to meet anyone.

Any problems?
No, none at all. In fact, I never felt particularly ill or that I was H1N1 positive. But then the reports said so, and I had to get treated.

And life after hospital?
Normal. I have absolutely no health problems, but yes, I have decided not to reveal that I had the flu. There is this unfounded fear among people that even when you are cured, you can infect them.

June 13: Avinash Khanna catches a flight for Mumbai via London. He had spent two months in the US.

June 15: He reaches Mumbai and takes a flight to Pune. Reaches Pune and within an hour leaves for Lucknow (his hometown) via Delhi. The beginnings of a sore throat and fever.

June 17: Wakes up at his Lucknow home with fever and takes medicines, but the fever keeps increasing and he visits a doctor. Doctor rules out H1N1.

Leaves for Delhi the same day and the fever disappears.

June 19: Khanna reaches Pune. He drops his luggage at a hotel and rushes to Naidu Hospital. Doctors take a throat swab for testing.

June 20: He tests positive and is quarantined at the Naidu Hospital.

June 26:u00a0 He is cured after being treated for seven days and is discharged from the hospital.