Swine flu alert ahead of Ganesh festival

Swine flu alert ahead of Ganesh festival

Pune: With rising cases of swine flu in the city, the Health Department of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has issued guidelines advising citizens to take precautionary measures ahead of Ganapati festival. 

Swine flu is a human respiratory infection caused by an influenza strain, which started in pigs. It is an airborne infection and transmits from one person to another.

According to data furnished by Health Department of PMC, from January 1 till September 8, around 6,12,667 patients have undergone screening for swine flu. And 6,519 were administered Tamiflu and 1,043 swab samples were sent for testing. Out of these, 119 were found positive in the PMC limits.

There are 54 patients, who are still admitted in the hospital whereas 48 patients have been discharged after treatment. Since there are more crowds on the streets due to the festive mood, the Health Department has issued an advisory for precautions to be taken.

Dr Anjali Sabne, Assistant Medical Officer of Health at PMC, said that important directives to high-risk patients have been issued by the department.

“Since we are seeing a spike in cases, we have issued important directives to high-risk patients. Pregnant women, elderly people and children are at a greater risk of swine flu as their immunity is less, so these patients should take extra care.

We have also asked the officials to administer Tamiflu if the symptoms of swine flu are seen. This is important, as then the patient has better care,” said Sabne. 

The advisory mentions that the symptoms of swine flu are fever, sore throat, flu, body pain, headache. The advisory states that in case of mild fever and flu, the patient should immediately seek medical help.

Patients with diabetes, cardiac issues, pregnant women or any other previous medical condition can make the patient more susceptible to the virus and more precautions are advised. 

Precautions advised by the department notes that the hands should be washed frequently and one should consume a healthy diet, which includes seasonal fruits, avoid smoking, get enough sleep and rest and drink a good amount of water. An important advisory is to use handkerchief while sneezing and dispose off tissue paper after use. It also mentions that one should avoid handshake, spitting in a public place, taking medicines without the doctor’s prescription and avoid public places if there are any flu symptoms prevalent.

What to do
 Hands should be washed frequently.
 Healthy diet and enough rest.
 Use handkerchief while sneezing and dispose off tissue paper properly after use.
 High-risk patients like patients with low immunity should avoid crowded places.
 Pregnant women and children should also avoid crowded places.
 In case of mild fever and flu, the patient should immediately seek medical help.

What not to do
 Avoid handshake.
 Avoid spitting in a public place.
 Do not take medicines without the prescription of doctors.
 

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