Swine flu can be tackled at home like any other influenza, say experts

Even as cases of H1N1 (swine flu) infection are being reported in the city, experts have suggested home management to contain the spread of the virus. Workshops to raise public awareness will be conducted in the city where suggestions and traditional remedies will be shared with the participants.

On Thursday, Dr Pradeep Awate, state head of the infectious diseases surveillance programme (IDSP), who was present at the Aundh Civil Hospital, told DNA that people should know that now this flu has become endemic and sporadic cases are bound to be reported.

“There is no need to panic as the mortality rate of this influenza is less than 2%. Transmissibility might be high, but now it will only infect those who were never exposed to the virus. Besides, by now people should learn home management for mild symptoms of this flu as admissions in such cases are not needed,” he opined.

Most of them are vaccinated against this infection and almost everybody in the city was exposed to the flu. Cases are being reported from surrounding areas of the city and the state and due to high exposure everyone is educated on how to combat this infection.

“In fact, it can be managed at home like any other influenza and we soon plan to conduct a workshop to educate people on the issue,” he said.

Aundh Civil Hospital’s head and civil surgeon of Pune district, Dr Mahendra Nagare, told DNA that more than 2,000 H1N1 cases are screened every day in the district and over 75 patients are admitted to hospitals. Around four to five suspected H1N1 cases were reported at the Aundh hospital on a daily basis but there hasn’t been any critical case so far.

About deaths due to H1N1, Nagare said since October, the virus has claimed only two lives in the district; one in December and the other on February 21 at Sahyadri Hospital. Since screening for the virus has not stopped, people with similar symptoms report to the hospital due to increased awareness, he explained.

Since October, hardly five to six cases have tested positive and this shows that there no resurgence of the virus. Besides, summer is here and the heat will not allow the virus to thrive, he added.