Swine flu not fatal for patients if treated properly
People with flu should avoid social contact for a few days
Dunya News Report (Jibran Dost)
ISLAMABAD: According to medical experts, people should not be troubled by the swine flu virus as it is not fatal for patients if treated properly.
Following the rising panic among people, the National Health Services (NHS) ministry issued an advisory in January, stating that people should not panic as there is no confirmation of any major mutation in the virus that could consequence in an unusual morbidity.
“Seasonal influenza viruses evolve continuously, which means that people can get infected multiple times. Currently, influenza A- (H1N1) and A- (H3N2) are the circulating seasonal influenza A-virus subtypes in different parts of Pakistan, including Punjab, Islamabad, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP),” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Dr Zafar Ejaz, the medical director of Karachi said “There is no need to panic about swine flu in the city. Patients with the flu must take plenty of water, rest and consult a doctor in case of severity.” He also added that isolations wards in major public hospitals have been set up.
At the same time, Professor Dr Khursheed Hashmi, a microbiologist at the Liaquat National Medical College’s department of pathology stated “Even doctors can’t judge the type of flu without a laboratory test.”
“People with flu should avoid social contact for a few days. But it is not a threat,” he further added, ensuring that with appropriate rest and treatment, a patient can be recovered.
During the month of January, death toll due to swine flu virus in the twin cities has reached up to 20.
12 people have died in Rawalpindi district, four people at the Holy Family Hospital, two at Benazir Bhutto Hospital and one at District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi.
Earlier this week, two female patients died at Bahawalpur Victoria Hospital (BVH) due to swine flu. However, BVH officials argued that only one patient had died due to the virus, and the other female patient was pregnant and died due to gynae complications.
Similarly, two patients lost their lives in Karachi after they tested positive for the virus. In addition, 22 other cases were reported in Karachi this month, but the patients have recovered and are out of danger.
In the first half of January, the number of people affected by Swine flu in Punjab province reached 54; whereas 150 cases throughout the country were reported.
Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique expressed that every effort is being made to contain the flu. He also added that an awareness campaign should be launched to provide awareness to the public and medical fraternity.
At the same time, two women admitted in Nishtar Medical Institute (NMI) Multan died due to swine flu. People are facing difficulties since the proper vaccination for the virus is not available in Nishtar Hospital and has to be purchased or ordered from out of the city.
Meanwhile, the district coordination officer and Health EDO denied these reports at a press conference.
“Those who died at the hospital had the seasonal flu,” said EDO Iftikhar. He said Nishtar Hospital was fully equipped to deal with seasonal flu cases. “It is wrong to say that people are dying of swine flu when they were suffering from different diseases.”
The first swine flu case in Pakistan was discovered in August 2009. The patient recovered and the disease was not transmitted any further. Federal Minister for Health at the time informed about the availability of anti-viral drug, Tami-flu, in Pakistan. He said that the medicine was sufficiently available in government hospitals to treat any patient of swine flu.
