Pakistan

Disease control: Swine flu vaccine not being used?

Experts say proper utilisation would have resulted in fewer cases in the country.

Sehrish Wasif January 22, 2011

ISLAMABAD: The anti-swine flu vaccine is not being used properly to control the disease in the country, according to health experts.

In March 2010, about 3.1 million doses of Monovalent Influenza were given to the Ministry of Health for distribution to the provinces. The vaccine was donated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“The vaccine reached the districts but Executive District Officers (EDOs) were not keen on using it,” said WHO Consultant Dr Arif Zaka. “An effective utilisation of the vaccine would have resulted in fewer cases of swine flu in the country.”

However, Manager National Influenza Control Programme Dr Baseer Khan Achakzai said the vaccine was sent to the provinces during the outbreak of the disease in August- September 2010 and was effectively employed by all concerned districts.

Five deaths from swine flu have so far been reported, two from Rawalpindi and one each from Islamabad, Sahiwal and Gujar Khan, according to the Ministry of Health.

A total of 169 from 281 blood samples received by the National Institute of Health between January 1 to 20 from across the country tested positive.

Holy Family Hospital received six patients since December 2010, of which one died while two tested positive, said In-charge Infection Control Committee Dr Javed Hayat. The deceased was identified as Saeeda from Gujar Khan. Four others showed symptoms of the disease.

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences received three patients, out of whom one tested positive and passed away on Wednesday. “Mansoor, from Attock, was too critical when brought to the hospital and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit,” said Senior Physician Dr Rizwan Qazi.

On the other hand, Polyclinic Hospital Spokesperson Dr Sharif Astori and Benazir Bhutto Hospital Additional Medical Superintendant Dr Bashir Malik said the hospitals had so far not received any swine flu patients.

Both doctors agreed that the only way to prevent infection is to improve personal hygiene, advising washing hands properly after using the washroom or coming into physical contact with animals or infected patients. They also stressed the need to vaccinate family members of infected patients.

Speaking of Monovalent Influenza, Dr Achakzai said the vaccine is meant for people who are prone to the disease. “This includes air hostesses, senior citizens, children and pregnant women,” he said.

He added that one of the major reasons behind its outbreak in the country was the failure of thermal scanners installed at airports that are meant to check people for signs and symptons of the flu. However, Islamabad Airport Health Officer Dr Irfan Tahir denied the malfunction of the scanners.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2011.

COMMENTS (2)

Achakzai | 13 years ago | Reply Hi, the gentelman Zulfiqar ali has not commented on swine Flu rather on his own case which is good for people to have knowledge about the disease he/she is suuffring from and where and how to go about it. Tribune has an article on Swine flu, we must desiminate knowlegde of any viral disease and its preventive measure to the public please, as I have explained to Ms Sehrish on telephoniv interview.

ZULFIQAR ALI | 13 years ago | Reply For using vaccine the medical experts should have complete consensus. As in our hospital ususally the house job doctors are serving the nation.These doctors have very limited exprience.They donot make too much exercise. I can give example of my daughter of 8 years .She was examined once in District Hospital. The doctor on house job,declared symtoms of neumonia.Unfortunately my daughter got serious, after taking doze of more than required quantity by the vary doctor.I directly went to MS.He without getting her checked said, i have asked the relevant doctor ,he is still confident. On the other hand when i got checked my daughter from another privated clinic.The doctor exposed me with challenge that my daugher was not suffering from the said disease as said by the MS and the house job doctor. Hence in our hospitals, all much concerted efforts are required by the authorities before giving their view on any medicine.

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