Swine flu cases in Hyderabad a threat to A.P.?

Expert says there is no cause for concern, but high-risk patients should take precautions. Thousands who travel to Hyderabad face the risk of exposure and bringing back the virus with them when they return.

Growing incidence of Human Influenza ‘A’ (H1N1) (swine flu) in Hyderabad is like a dormant volcano and a potential threat to those in Andhra Pradesh also. Thousands from the State still go to the metro every day and are open to the risk of contracting the infection.

World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the strain as a pandemic in 2009. The strain which was considered new then spread worldwide and caused 17,000 deaths in a short span of six months. The flu was however brought under control quickly and the WHO declared that the H1N1 pandemic was over on August 10, 2010 with the worldwide flu activity returning to typical seasonal patterns.

Swine Flu is a ‘notifiable’ disease and it is mandatory for all hospitals, both private and government, to report cases brought to them to the health authorities concerned. Nine H1N1 positive cases have been notified to the Epidemic Division in Hyderabad till last week this season. Though there have been no deaths so far most of the patients are children.

Thousands who travel to Hyderabad face the risk of exposure and bringing back the virus with them when they return.

Epidemiologist and senior physician with ESI Hospital T.V. Narayana Rao said there were no H1N1 cases reported in the area till now, but it was better for high-risk patients should take precautions. Pregnant women, children senior citizens, cardiology patients and diabetics should be cautions and consult a doctor if they develop sneezing, running nose or fever.

The general public should also consult a doctor if they develop vomiting, difficulty in breathing and if they notice blood in phlegm, Dr Narayana Rao said.

While it was not necessary to go around wearing face masks (cloth), but persons having cold or cough should carry a handkerchief and cover their mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing because the virus spreads through droplets.

There has been a reduction in the incidence of fevers in general, but some cases of malaria were reported recently. The seasonal increase of Scrub Typhus was a cause of anxiety, but the number of cases of the infection was coming down and therefore there was no reason for alarm, Dr Narayana Rao said.