Swine flu back in Hyderabad?

It seems the dreaded swine flu is back. A 23-year-old woman with swine flu like symptoms, was admitted to the swine flu ward of the Government Chest Hospital on Wednesday, even as doctors and district medical officials warned swine flu may spread during winter. This is the first suspected case since onset of winter though there were many people who approached hospitals, with common flu symptoms due to climate change.The woman, a resident of Chaderghat locality was admitted to the hospital suffering from cold, cough and body pains since past one week. “The patient has been admitted to the Outpatient unit. We have collected samples and she is being screened at the swine flu ward.The report will be out tomorrow,” Dr SV Prasad, hospital superintendent told Expresso. He, however, said none knew how lethal swine flu could be in future.During the rainy and winter season, swine flu is likely to spread, according to Dr Prasad.Every season, 10 per cent of the population is affected with common flu but it would be a cause to worry if the number rises to 25-30 percent in coming days. “We need a database of people affected with swine flu in the twin cities, to check for any unusual outbreak,” Dr Prasad said.A number of patients are making a beeline for the OP unit suffering with common flu symptoms such as fever, cold, cough and body pains.The chest hospital receives at least 40 to 50 per cent of these cases on an average out of 200 cases per day.Asked whether problems of cough and cold getting common during the monsoon and winter seasons would result in spread of the dreaded disease, Dr Prasad said, “There is no cause for worry as swine flu has not spread so far. It is mostly being reported from states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Orissa.” However, Dr BL Veena Kumari, Hyderabad district health and medical officer (DHMO) said surveillance and screening has to be given high priority.Special medical staff as well as testing centres are being made available at various places.“Swine flu virus can spread rapidly during monsoon and winter due to cool weather conditions,” she said.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com