Bengaluru: Marathon runner Sudha Singh, who has given blood samples for tests to check for the Zika virus, has been diagnosed with H1NI infection and not the disease contracted from daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes.
The Indian athlete, who participated in the 3000 metre steeplechase at the Rio Olympics, has been admitted to the Fortis hospital in Bengaluru.
Dr. Ananath Padmanabhan, Fortis Hospital, confirmed this to ANI.
“Sudha Singh has been admitted with all the viral related infections. She is being investigated thoroughly. She is having H1N1 infection and not any Zika Virus,” he said.
“Whatever precautions and treatment that should be taken for the H1N1 infection, we are taking them. We have given her symptomatic medicines. We have given her anti-viral tablets,” he added.
The doctor further said that two weeks of treatment may be required for the Indian athlete.
Earlier, Chief Medical Officer of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Dr. Sarla said there were influenza like symptoms in Sudha and so she had to get admitted in the hospital.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has assured to bear the expenses of Sudha’s treatment.
“The government is going to bear the expenses of the treatment that is going to be given to the athlete. I have sent K. Govindraj (The president of the State Olympics Association) to visit and give the report,” he told ANI.
Sudha developed fever on her return journey to India and consumed some medicines on her own and did not report her illness at the health office at the airport set-up to screen passengers with symptoms of Ebola and Zika.
She, however, reported being ill when she reached the SAI hostel in Bengaluru.
Sudha competed in the 3000 metre steeplechase event at Rio while O. P. Jaisha and Kavita Raut participated in the women’s marathon. (ANI)