Virus warning: Killer flu returns - 33 cases confirmed

Doctors advise precaution as swine flu may be on the loose in the twin cities.


Sehrish Wasif January 08, 2011

ISLAMABAD: Influenza A (H1N1), commonly known as swine flu, has made a comeback in the twin cities. Thirty-three confirmed cases of the infection have been reported so far and hospitals are geared up to deal with a possible outbreak. There is, however, no reason to ring alarm bells, say medical experts.

According to the Ministry of Health, 75 blood samples from across the country were received at the National Institute of Health (NIH) for testing. Fifty-nine of these tested positive, which included 24 from Punjab, nine from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 13 from Karachi and 13 from Islamabad. Twenty of the positive samples from Punjab were from Rawalpindi.

Dr Jaleel Kamran of Epidemic Investigation Cell at NIH told The Express Tribune that the blood samples started coming from the twin cities in the beginning of January. He did not see much cause of concern as he added, “There is no threat of it spreading.”

Dr Javed Hayat, who is incharge of the Infection Control Committee at Holy Family Hospital (HFH), said there is one confirmed case of the infection at the hospital.

Speculation about the infection’s return is floating about. An official in the Ministry of Health, who wished to remain anonymous, feared that returning Hajj pilgrims could be carrying the virus to the country. “This year, Hajj pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan were not screened for H1N1 at the airports”, he said. Last year, expensive thermal scanners for the screening of swine flu were installed at major airports. Not surprisingly, the majority of them are not working.

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is caused by a virus that affects the respiratory tract. Influenza A, a variant of the common flu, causes acute illness and serious complications leading, in some cases, to death. The virus is mainly spread via migrants and is highly contagious.

The time is just ripe for its spread and precautionary measures are advised. Dr Mahmud Javed, chief of the infectious disease department at Shifa International Hospital, explained, “Mid-winter is the peak season for the spread of the disease. The elderly and people suffering from ailments such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma are especially prone to the virus.” He said the symptoms of the disease are similar to the common flu, which often creates confusion in diagnosis.

It may also be better for families to temporarily forgo cosy gatherings in the evenings. “Indoor crowding is one of the major reasons behind its spread. In winters, members of a family gather in one warm room, which makes them more susceptible to the disease”, said Dr. Javed.One dose of a vaccine, dubbed Fluarix, can protect a person from the virus for atleast one year. It costs between Rs500 to 600 and is easily available.

An anti-viral medication called Acetaminophen is also an option for protection against the disease. A five day course costs Rs2000.

Isolation wards have been set up and the vaccine has been stored in bulk at hospitals around the twin cities.

But, as they say, prevention is better than cure.

Key points

Symptoms:

Fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches.

Prevention:

Proper awareness about the disease, improved hygiene, proper hand washing. Infected people should avoid contact with others as it spreads via cough or sneeze.

All the hospitals in twin cities have prepared to deal with Influenza A H1N1 patients and have made isolation wards and stored its vaccination in bulk.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2011.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ