RAWALPINDI, Jan 24: The National Institute of Health (NIH), on Thursday, confirmed a patient, after her death, as a carrier of swine flu (H1N1).

Two women patients suspected of swine flu on January 22, 2013, expired at Holy Family Hospital (HFH).

The hospital administration sent samples National Institute of Health (NIH) to confirm whether the deaths were caused by swine flu or not. One test turned out to be positive, while the other was declared negative.

The swine flu patient Ms Tasleem, 45, arrived at the hospital on January 19 with symptoms of flu from Pirwadhai.

The other patient, Shahnaz Bibi, 35, arrived from Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. She was suffering from pneumonia and was admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Doctors suspected swine flu but the tests turned out to be negative.

“The NIH declared the patient from Pirwadhai as swine flu positive, while the tests came out negative for the other patient,” said Dr Javed Hayat at HFH.

Meanwhile, another patient arrived at HFH with symptoms of swine flu.

Nusrat Bibi, 33, came from Chamanzar Colony, on Thursday, after delivering a baby.

“The patient was suffering from pneumonia and had breathing problems. We admitted her in ICU for treatment and sent samples to NIH for swine flu testing,” said Dr Javed Hayat.

Dr Hayat said that the clinical symptoms of swine flu were similar to seasonal flu such as high fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, pains, headache, chills and fatigue.

“Although with swine flu severe pneumonia and death may occur at times,” he said.