Continued cold spell along with intermittent rainy spells could further increase the number of Swine flu cases. Experts opine that the weather conditions are conducive for the spread of H1 N1, the virus responsible for the dreaded disease, which has already claimed 15 lives in less than a month.
The maximum temperature of Doon Valley is hovering around 18 degree Celsius while the minimum temperature keeps hovering in the neighbourhood of 6 degree Celsius. The spells of the rains have increased humidity and brought the temperature further down.
The senior physician at Synergy Hospital Dr S K Varun said that the lower temperature conditions are suitable for multiplication and proliferation of the virus and thud the chances of the spread of the diseases like Swine flu are the highest in such conditions. He said that the virus of Swine flu spreads by droplet infections.
The State health department has so far reported 53 cases of Swine flu with two new cases surfacing on Thursday following their swab samples being found positive for the disease.
The department sends the swab samples of the suspected patients of the disease to the laboratory of National Centre of Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi for testing. The department also accepts the report of the molecular laboratory of Mahant Indiresh (MI) Hospital with the lab being accredited by the NCDC New Delhi.
The in-charge of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme ( IDSP), Dr Pankaj said that 33 cases of the disease have so far been reported by Mahant Indiresh Laboratory while 17 have been reported by NCDC. He claimed that the department is on an alert mode vis-a-vis the disease. “ As compared to other states, the health department of Uttarakhand is the best prepared to combat H1 N1. We have adequate stocks of the required medicines to combat the disease. Besides, we have conducted training of all the doctors of state health services.
Similarly, isolation wards have been set up in every district hospital to take on the situation,’’ he claimed.
The in-charge IDSP accepted the fact that the number of cases is likely to increase with drop in temperature. He, however, added that with the increase in mercury, the spread of the virus would be contained.
Swine Flu
Swine flu is a viral disease and its virus is also called H1 N1. Its genetic analysis has shown that it originates from the animals, especially the pigs, and hence it is called Swine flu. The Swine flu patients are divided into three categories. In 'A' category, the patient suffers from mild fever and irritation in throat. The patients of this category should be isolated at home and require no test or medication.
The patients of 'B' category are characterised by high fever and the patient need isolation and should be administered Oseltamivir (Tami flu) medicine. The medical experts are of the view that if a patient is suffering from breathlessness, low Blood Pressure along with symptoms of A and B category he is put under category 'C'. Such patients should be isolated, hospitalised and administered Tami flu and they need to be tested for Swine flu.