Olympic athlete tests positive for H1N1

 Olympic middle-distance runner Sudha Singh (29), who was suspected to have contracted the Zika virus, has tested negative for the flu. The athlete, however, has tested positive for H1N1.

Sudha returned from the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last week.
According to Dr B G Prakash Kumar, deputy director, Vector-borne Diseases, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Sudha’s blood samples sent to Pune for examination early on Tuesday had tested negative for the Zika virus.

“We are yet to rule out dengue and chikungunya. The reports would be out on Wednesday. She is already on Tamiflu, a medication for H1N1, and is in the ward. Since a person could be carrying several viruses at the same time, we are testing her for the other flus as well,” added Dr Kumar.

Dr Anantha Padmanabha, physician, Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi, said Sudha tested negative for malaria, dengue and Zika but positive for H1N1. “The test for chikungunya, malaria and dengue were conducted at Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi, whereas the test for Zika and H1N1 were conducted at the National Institute of Virology in Pune and Nimhans in Bengaluru, respectively.

She is stable and on the path to recovery. Her future course of treatment will be based on the symptoms. We have been regularly updating the state and Central health authorities and the Sports Authority of India who have been very cooperative on this front,” Dr Padmanabha said.

Medical expenses

The state government will bear all the medical expenses of Sudha, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

He directed Karnataka Olympic Association president K Govindraj to visit her at the hospital and complete the formalities.

Replying to a query, Siddaramaiah said he would direct the health department officials to take precautionary steps to prevent the spread of the virus.