Swine flu hits 20, fear grips many

Swine flu in India is not yet pandemic, but it is certainly creating panic in parts of the country. Fear is mounting as the number of infected persons continues to grow — though only 20 cases of the disease have been confirmed nationwide, so far — and worried people are doing the rounds of hospitals.

In Pune, a steady queue at the municipal corporation-run Naidu Hospital for Infectious Diseases meets the eye. The medical superintendent, Dr DV Barathe, said that 12 persons, including two women, got themselves admitted in the last few days, complaining of flu-like symptoms.

But all were discharged within 24 hours after tests. “Six were NRIs, while four were abroad on official duty. The remaining two were foreigners, from Australia and France,” Barathe said. A majority of the 12 were here after visits to flu-affected countries like Australia, France, and the US and UK.

In Mumbai, the Kandivili couple, who on Saturday admitted themselves to Kasturba Hospital claiming flu symptoms after a visit to Hyderabad, were discharged on Sunday morning. “We have had six patients so far. But as of today, the ward is empty,” said Dr Umesh Aigal, the medical superintendent.

“It is quite unnecessary for people who have not travelled out of the city to worry about swine flu,” said Dr Jayaraj Thanekar, the BMC’s executive health chief. “All the suspected cases we have received so far have been of NRIs who travelled to the affected countries.”

And much as Mumbai’s high temperature and humidity is usually considered a curse, they have kept H1N1 at bay since the virus cannot thrive in such conditions, a civic health official said, while cautioning against self-medication.