Swine flu scare grips Vizagites

VISAKHAPATNAM: Reports of suspected swine flu cases have sent Vizagites into panic mode. The city has thus far reported four confirmed swine flu cases, while several people have been admitted to various hospitals with related symptoms. A 56-year-old woman from Town Kotha Road here has tested positive for H1N1. She was undergoing treatment for swine flu for past one week at the Government Chest Hospital. Another suspected patient, a15-year-old girl from the city, was admitted to the hospital in the early hours of Sunday and her report is awaited from the Institute of Preventive Medicine, Hyderabad. However, their condition is stated to be stable. Despite these sporadic cases, the situation in Vizag and coastal Andhra Pradesh is not alarming like that in Hyderabad. But people, right from the time of Visakha Utsav, are seen wearing masks at public places such as RK Beach and Beach Road, shopping malls and multiplexes. Certain private schools have also issued circulars asking their students to wear masks.D Nagesh, brother of a pregnant woman, who is admitted to the obstetrics and gynaecology ward at KGH, said, “Even though no one in our area is suffering from swine flu, it’s a highly contagious disease and mortality is very high. Therefore, it’s better to take precautions, especially while visiting places like hospitals, which are infested with various pathogens.”In fact, doctors also point out that panic-stricken people are pouring in for tests to rule out swine flu. The medical superintendent of KGH, Dr M Madhusudana Babu, pointed out, “Even if it’s a mild fever or just coughing and sneezing, everyone is getting alarmed. Due to the prevailing weather, viral fevers are quite common this season. The fear of swine flu has now gripped people’s minds, especially due to the daily deaths reported from Hyderabad.”Dr LDSH Devi, the nodal officer for swine flu in the district, said, “Currently three cases – two at a private hospital (who tested H1N1 positive at a private lab in Mumbai) and one at the Chest Hospital – are undergoing treatment for swine flu. As for the woman from Vizianagaram who died of ARDS on Saturday, she was swine flu negative. The 65-year-old H1N1 positive man at the private hospital has multiple health complications such as coronary arterial disease, COPD, multi-drug resistant TB and so on, besides H1N1.His condition is slightly serious.”Meanwhile, the NGO Bala Vikas Foundation, working for the welfare and development of children, will organise a four-day awareness programme on Monday to sensitise people on prevention of swine flu.