KATHMANDU: Janamaitri Hospital today revealed that as per the request of the government, the hospital did not make public the patients who succumbed to Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1).

“Although we have reported first case of death to Ministry of Health and Population, World Health Organisation and Avian Influenza Control Project (AICP), they have requested us not to reveal it,” said Dr Ajay Pradhan, consultant physician of the hospital. He said that such a decision was taken since it was likely to cause panic among people.

The government on Monday disclosed the incomplete report after they confirmed that two persons have died of swine flu in the country thus far.

Addressing a press conference here, Dr Pradhan said that the 31-year-old female from Chitwan who succumbed to the disease had been admitted on November 5 and had been kept on a ventilator for 25 days. He also accused the government of its inability in detecting the cases on time and that many hospitals were giving the medicine for pneumonia to swine flu patients.

He revealed that the two people who succumbed to the disease were given Tamiflu but said others were given general care.

“The performance of National Public Health Laboratory is not satisfactory as it takes around seven days in sending confirmed reports,” Pradhan said, adding that the treatment against swine flu should start within 48 hours of infection.

He further said that the rapid test kit was not reliable for confirming the flu.

He also warned that the second wave of swine flu could strike any time and that the government should be prepared to combat it.

Dr Shyam Sundar Mishra, coordinator of AICP, however, said that they could not officially declare the death as they were complicated and needed further investigation in a subtle way.

He further added that 148 cases have recovered till date.