By Owais Gul
Srinagar: Amid reports about the death of an elderly person at SKIMS due to swine flu, the health department on Friday said that the department has geared up and is fully prepared to deal with any kind of virus.
Dr Syed Manzoor Qadri, Assistant Directorate/ State Surveillance Officer communicable diseases informed INS that it is not Swine flu but influenza AH1N1, which has now merged with the normal flu, saying that the swine flu has gone in 2009. “There was no need panic as the health department is fully prepared for any kind of influenza,” he said.
According to the advisory issued by the health department, Influenza is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract. Although the large majority of cases of influenza are a self limiting upper respiratory infection, complications can and do occur. The influenza virus has subtypes A, B, and C. Type A and B gives rise to epidemics but influenza A is known to cause pandemics (e.g. Influenza A H1N1). Type C influenza infection usually causes either a very mild respiratory illness or no symptoms at all, it does not cause epidemics. Influenza (flu) is a common contagious illness that spreads every year from October through winter. The symptoms are cough, fever/chills, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, headache and a runny or stuffy nose. In children it can cause diarrhoea and vomiting. Most people will have only a mild illness but in some people it can cause serious disease and even death.
Dr Qadri while sharing the details said that it is just like influenza and in this regard an advisory was issued and for that an action plan was prepared in September-October like every year.
“In this regard, the department devise health advisory, which is being circulated to Chief Medical Officer, Medical Superintendents and Block Medical Officers,” he said, adding that the department has also a Rapid Response (RR) team, available at divisional and district levels as well. “The members of the RR team are epidemiologist, physician or a pediatrician, microbiologist and health educator. The department also provides telephonic advisory in case people need any advises regarding their health,” he said.
He further added that in case of there is a rise in acute respiratory case from any specific area, then the department send a team to the place and accordingly take action. “We have also made anti-viral drugs available that has been kept at District Surveillance Unit (DSU) at all districts. In case there is a suspect, we take a sample of the suspect send that for testing but in the meanwhile we start the treatment of that suspect,” he said.
Dr Qadri further said that the suspect if found positive are being directed to continue the treatment.
The expert also appealed people to take precautions including covering his or her nose while coughing or sneezing and washing hands often.
