Eight more H1N1 patients detected

Provincial health department begins H1N1 virus awareness campaign.

KARACHI: As eight more swine flu patients were detected on Thursday, the administration staff of all government hospitals in Sindh have been told to set up separate units in their hospitals. The provincial health department has also asked hospitals to organise weekly seminars to raise awareness about the potential pandemic.

“Eight more people have been infected with the swine flu virus taking the number of patients affected to 19 in a week and the total number of cases to 31 in the country,” said the head of the swine flu surveillance cell, Dr Suresh Kumar. Health experts have suggested that the number of swine flu cases is on the rise due to the cold weather.

During a meeting of the provincial health department led by health secretary Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi on Thursday, instructions were given to government hospitals whose heads, along with EDOs, attended the meeting.

“Following the directives of Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed, we have initiated an awareness campaign to educate society about how to protect themselves from swine flu,” said Zaidi. “Banners inscribed with the symptoms of the disease along with preventive measures will also be installed in hospitals and at various locations across the city,” he added.

He said that the health department will provide ventilators for the swine-flu units in all hospitals along with anti-viral treatment flu drugs.

Describing the symptoms of the illness, the secretary said, “Patients affected with swine flu complain about sneezing, vomiting, fever and muscle pain. Infected people must pay special attention to their diet because insufficient meals can weaken the body.”

Cold water and beverages must be avoided, he advised. Fruits, vegetables and soup should be added to the diet, Zaidi added. He informed that when swine flu is left untreated, it can lead to lung failure.

“Swine influenza is a curable virus,” assured Zaidi. He advised people to visit certified doctors when they experience the symptoms. He said patients suffering from normal flu must take precautionary measures because the virus is transmitted from one patient to other.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2011.