The comeback of H1N1 virus in coastal Karnataka has put hospitals in Bangalore in a state of alert. Of the four people who died due to the virus on Saturday, one was a Bangalorean who was visiting her relatives in Sagar taluk of Shimoga district.
The city hospitals are vigilant to the virus by keeping themselves equipped with all the necessary facilities, including drugs and vaccines, alongside adequate number of doctors. These doctors have braced themselves to handle the pressure of treating as many infected patients.
DNA visited both government and private hospitals for a reality check and found them exuding confidence. The hospitals said that there was nothing to panic about.
There are enough vaccines and drugs available in the hospitals, and very few cases of the virus have been reported. The doctors shared more good news — that the virus has changed its form.
“The virus is said to have entered the herd community as is the nature of all virus. Even in the past, when the virus attacked, it had made the human beings immune to the disease. So there is nothing to panic about,” said Dr H Paramesh, MD, Lakeside View Hospital, Ulsoor.
Dr Sudarshan Ballal, director, Manipal Hospital, too seconded his opinion. He said that in a few weeks, Manipal Hospital will have its own testing laboratory.
There are two testing facilities in Bangalore — Nimhans and Narayana Health City.
The government hospitals, which generally are known to have had short supply of doctors, paramedics, and stocks of medicines, are working hard to set things right. The Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD) is now equipped with testing material as well as medication.
“If a patient comes with symptoms of swine flu, we send his throat and nasal swabs for test. If tested positive, we screen his family members as well,” said Nagaraj Swamy, nurse- in-charge, RGICD.
This year, as of now, there have been no deaths due to the swine flu, said Swamy. In July, four swabs had been sent for test to the department of neuro-virology in Nimhans. The reports are yet to come. In May, three swabs were sent, of which one tested positive; in June, of the six swabs sent, one tested positive. In June and July, Victoria Hospital sent several swabs to Nimhans, but not one tested positive.
The doctors on the emergency duty on Sunday said if they found that the patient was affected, they would start with the drugs right away. Although there were hardly any patients at Victoria Hospital, four additional medical staffers were deputed. The situation was the same at RGICD.
Even the private hospitals are geared up to take the virus. “We are mentally prepared this year but, as you can see, most cases in the outburst were diagnosed during June-October. This year, the chances of a widespread epidemic are feeble,” said Ballal.
Last year, the medical staff were vaccinated free of cost by the hospital authorities and the effect lasts for a year.
“This year, so far, we have not vaccinated our staff. Many of them had sub-clinical infections last year, so they have now developed immunity towards the virus. Also, we have adequate drugs to handle any sort of situation,” added Ballal.
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