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ShareMumbai: The scare of swine flu has engulfed the city more than the virus itself. Although there is an alarming increase in the number of people believing that they have contracted the virus, it is NIHANS alone that is conducting the tests of the samples collected.
Moreover, the hospitals designated to examine the flu cases do not have any sign boards or special help desks to guide panic stricken cases.
Mallige Mahabodhi hospital on Siddapura Road figures among the list of hospitals where symptoms of the flu are examined, but throat and nasal swabs of the suspects are sent to NIMHANS for the Real Time Polymerised Chained Reaction (RTPCR) Test.
The swine flu facility in this hospital is confined to extremely serious patients.
Although the flu fear is rampant in the premises, with everyone sporting the mask, there are no visible sign boards or charts displayed, for the benefit of laymen. However, the hospital houses an exclusive ICU for serious swine flu cases.
Dr Purushottam of Mallige Hospital said, "The swine flu screening facility is confined to adults. We screen 10 to 15 cases, of which three to four genuine cases are considered because stocks are limited. The ICU here is exclusive to serious swine flu cases. Two patients who were admitted have now proved negative and will be discharged soon."
Operating since 3 days, the swine flu unit here deals with patients based on priorities of A (very sick), B (vulnerable cases, including exposed doctors and hospital staff and children) and C (suspects) and then recommends further treatment, he added.
Bangalore Hospital in Jayanagar 4th Block is also a designated hospital to examine swine flu cases. Here, there is a help desk devoted to guiding patients, although not exclusive to swine flu. There are no sign boards and guidelines pasted anywhere, either.
Dr Rashmi, assistant hospital administrator, said, "Swine flu doesn't necessarily cause death and masks don't really shield you from the flu. Maintaining a meter's distance from the infected suffices. Our hospital only examines patients. The swabs are tested in NIMHANS and the suspects are sent to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases."
About precautionary measures the hospital has taken, she said, "We are spreading awareness about the dos and don'ts everywhere. It's all over the internet too." But none too conspicuous to a non tech-savvy layman, as yet.
