‘Treat swine flu like ordinary flu, but avoid self-treatment’

Three persons have died within 72 hours in the city due to complications arising out of swine flu.

Delhi on Friday reported the death of its third swine flu victim this season. A 38-year-old woman from Uttam Nagar succumbed at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in the early hours of the day.

Health Department Additional Director In-charge (Public Health) Charan Singh said: “We received five new cases of swine flu on Friday, taking the total number of cases this season to 35. The second death was that of a young adult in a private hospital in East Delhi on Thursday, while a woman died earlier while undergoing treatment at a private hospital.”

Over 20 fresh cases of swine flu have been reported from across the city, including Madangir, Sangam Vihar, Greater Kailash-I, JNU campus, Laxmi Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Masjid Moth of South Delhi and Chhatarpur.

Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has cautioned against self-medication. Advocating immediate medical consultation for those suspecting to be suffering from swine flu, it has released a set of public guideline to create awareness about the virus.

IMA honorary secretary-general K. K. Aggarwal said: “We endorse the views of the World Health Organization and Ministry of Health, which clearly states that there is no need to panic and that swine flu should be treated like any other normal flu.”Dr. Aggarwal added that swine flu has not taken any epidemic shape this year. “Delhi had reported 16 deaths in 2013. Swine flu cases have gone up in the past two to three weeks.”

Swine flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and malaise. Occasionally, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and rash may also be present. Severe breathlessness and blood on coughing are ominous signs and need investigation and/or hospitalisation. Symptoms ordinarily last for one to two weeks.

The IMA has noted that cases of fever with breathlessness should not be neglected, and the need admission in isolation and investigation for influenza (swine or otherwise). The government has designated both government and private labs for testing. Positive tests only through these laboratories will be considered confirmed.

Swine flu can be prevented by adhering to cough and respiratory hygiene. One should not cough in the hands or a handkerchief. Instead, cough on the sleeves of a shirt or in a tissue paper.