Health experts claim that swine flu is going to stay for long
Mumbai : With one death and 19 cases of swine flu being reported in last one month, city health experts claim that the swine flu danger is still not over and the virus is here to stay for a longer time. Currently, two out-station patients are put on ventilator support and are reported to be critical.
Further, city doctors stated that delay in seeking treatment for swine flu and co-morbid conditions such as hypertension and diabetes have led to complications and deterioration in swine flu patients’ condition.
BMC health officials claimed that considering the recent trend of swine flu in the city, the influenza virus will now be seen throughout the year and is no more a seasonal disease. However, they added that the cases have definitely gone down in comparison with three deaths and 40 cases of swine flu being reported in May.
Doctors informed that patients who seek treatment late are prone to higher complications. Also, people who belong to the high-risk categories such as hypertension, diabetes and other co-morbidities including children, pregnant women and elderly should be more alert. Dr Om Srivastava, head of infectious diseases department at Jaslok Hospital, said, “Swine flu coupled with co-morbid conditions worsens the case as the patient is more immune to infections and also it weakens a patients’ immunity system.”
When asked, Dr Minnie Khetarpal, head of epidemiology cell at BMC, said, “After testing positive for swine flu, if a patient is started with Oseltamivir dosage within 48 hours then the chances of survival increases.”
