Swine flu rears its head again

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 19

The Health Department has sounded an alert in the state, asking the chief medical officers to issue advisory to the public to take preventive measures. According to surveillance officer, the swine flu had claimed the life of a patient at the PGI a few days ago. The patient belonged to Shimla.

As many as 11 patients – nine in Shimla, one each in Kangra and Mandi – have tested positive this year, said Dr Sonam Negi, state disease surveillance officer.

The two swine flu patients were admitted to the isolation ward of the IGMC, said a senior consultant of the hospital. Most of the swine flu cases were reported in Shimla for the last five days. Professor of medicine, IGMC, Dr Jatinder Kumar Mokta said the swine flu was a seasonal viral infection prevailing in the environment and there was no cause for panic.

“This virus can be checked by maintaining personal hygiene and taking precautionary measures by patients. The people should wash hands, avoid handshake and drink warm water and the patients suffering from cold should take rest at home,” Dr Mokta said.

“Patients and their attendants and staff are advised to wear masks,” Dr Mokta said. “The people should avoid visiting crowded places and washing their hands frequently and taking a lot of liquids. They should use cover while sneezing and coughing,” he added. Though the intensity of swine flu as compared to last year is much less, the sudden spurt in the cases has sounded an alert as weather has been changing fast.

In 2019-20, the swine flu toll was 30 while the number of cases was 330 till February 19, said Dr Negi. But this year, there was one death, while the number of cases were 11, he added. Dr Negi said 109 patients tested for swine flu, 69 were at the IGMC and 40 patients at the government medical college, Tanda. The CMOs have been alerted. The January-March period is the flu season, Negi said.