In an attempt to allay fears and disquiet among the general public, the Telangana government on Wednesday assured people that swine flu could be treated and it was not fatal. Principal Secretary, Health and Medical, Suresh Chanda, also made it clear that except healthcare workers who deal with swine flu patients from close quarters, there’s no need of vaccination for high risk groups.
Addressing presspersons on Wednesday, the top official brushed away suggestions that the government was not prepared as cases of swine flu started to get reported from the latter half of December 2014. “People should take basic precautions and there is no need to panic,” Mr. Suresh Chanda said.
He said that unlike in 2009-10, the swine flu virus was not virulent. “Patients are responding to treatment and are getting cured. However, high risk groups like pregnant women, persons with kidney, heart ailments and lung infections should be careful not to contract the seasonal flu virus,” he said. The Principal Secretary said that all the hospitals were equipped with enough isolation wards and beds to handle any kind of situation. “We still feel that this time around, the cases are not as intense as they were in 2009. People, however, should continue to take basic precautions and try to avoid going to public areas like Numaish,” he said.
More casesFive more persons have tested positive for swine flu in Hyderabad, taking the overall number to 105 in Telangana since last January.
Among those who tested positive for swine flu, is an 11-month-old boy from Bachupally area, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital. Doctors said that there is a steady increase in swine flu cases among children. At present, 10 children admitted to various private hospitals in Hyderabad are undergoing treatment for swine flu.
