Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, Medical Director & Chairman - Medical Advisory Board, Manipal Health Enterprises
While the entire nation is gripped by the concern of Swine Flu, it is to be remembered that a right proportion of awareness, vigilance, public health measures and appropriate medical care can reverse this growing trend. Common sense, better hygiene and proper awareness are the need of the hour that will be a greater weapon than Tamiflu to fight the disease.
Panic is spreading faster than the flu and it is more detrimental during such critical times. True, we have an outbreak of the disease where we are testing around 50 samples every day in 3 shifts which is more than 10-15 times than the last occurrence of the outbreak. Today, we are much better equipped to deal and combat the disease and overcome it.
It is again a never ending battle between Mankind and Viruses whether it is Ebola, Swine Flu, SARS or Viral Encephalitis. Eternal vigilance, a strong public health care system and an educated public are the only ways to fight this battle.
The disease which caused a lot of anxiety in 2009 and 2010 seemed to have become quiescent in the later years because of awareness programs, public health measures, innate immunity in many people. However, with subclinical infection and vaccinations in the high risk population, it seems that the ailment has now raised its ugly head again esp. in Delhi, Telangana and a few other places even causing deaths in a few cases.
Common sense measures like people with cold and cough staying away from schools and public places, people with progressive illness seeking medical attention, vaccination of high risk individuals who are likely to be exposed and appropriate use of Tamiflu where indicated are the immediate measures that needs to articulated.
Public health measure like using a kerchief or tissue when sneezing,frequent washing of hands and use of masks when dealing with these patients would decrease the spread of illness. In a country like India, preventive measure is the key especially when it comes to such ailments.
The symptoms of the illness are very similar to the common flu and include cold, cough, body ache and fever. In addition some people may have nausea vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms. In serious cases of progression there is severe breathing problems with respiratory failure and may require ventilator care in the ICU and some may succumb to the illness if delayed.
Since it is difficult to distinguish the symptoms from the common flu test like rtPCR for the virus in respiratory secretions may be needed.
Swine Flu or H1N1 strain of influenza is a virus started off as an outbreak in Mexico way back in March/April of 2009 and unlike many other outbreaks spread like wild fire and was declared a 'Pandemic' by the WHO in June of 2009.
This viral disease spreads from person to person by droplet spread like sneezing,coughing and contact with respiratory secretions. Crowded places and like most respiratory illnesses' winter months are conducive for its spread and manifestation.
Soon after the spread of this disease WHO came up with measures to prevent this disease and treat this specific antiviral agents like Tamiflu .Surprisingly a vaccine was made available in a short period of time and was extensively used esp. among health care givers.
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