All government hospitals in New Delhi have been put on high alert after six cases swine flu were confirmed. ”The first case was reported from Gokulpuri in northeast Delhi in January. Other cases have been reported from Vasant Vihar, Dwarka and Ram Nagar near Loni. All patients have been discharged after treatment,” Dr Sarman Singh said. Dr Sarman Singh, professor of microbiology at AIIMS, said the H1N1 virus did not pose a grave peril anymore. “In year 2009, when H1N1 cases were reported for the first time, we had no medicine or practical experience to deal with it. But now we have medicines and even vaccines needed to treat and prevent the disease,” he said.
Most of the patients had travelled recently and had probably picked up the virus from different parts of the country. “An advisory, prepared by the ministry of health in view of the increasing number of cases, has been issued to all government hospitals,” he added. A senior health official with the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) said they had enough medicines to deal with H1N1 influenza cases. An isolation ward has also been set up and the facilities are in place to deal with any exigency situation.
In 2009 the H1N1 situation had gained epidemic proportions. Medicos say there is nothing to worry about this time as a large portion of the populations has been exposed to the virus. “Most people have developed antibodies to fight the infection. Many people have even taken vaccination for the influenza virus,” said Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, head of the medicine department at Max hospital, Saket. According to officials, routine screening for H1N1 virus isn’t necessary. Only high-risk patients like the elderly, diabetics, cancer patients and pregnant women should get themselves checked if they develop symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat and body ache. Health experts say timely medical help is crucial to reducing the risk of mortality.
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