RAWALPINDI: The lurking danger of Influenza A-H1N1 known as seasonal flu outbreak is dying down as the influx of seasonal flu patients has decreased in the hospitals of the city.
Talking to APP, District Health Officer (DHO) Prevention Dr Abdul Jabbar said that 112 suspected patients of the seasonal flu were brought to different hospitals of the city from the month of January till date whose blood samples were sent to National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad for confirmation. He informed that most of the negative patients were discharged after proper treatment.
To a question, he said that 86 suspected patients were brought from Rawalpindi, 12 from Islamabad and the remaining from Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The arrivals of seasonal flu patients had dropped to zero patients per day in the last three to four days, however, at present two suspected patients of influenza were admitted in the hospital and would be discharged after proper medical treatment, he added.
The DHO also said that people should take precautionary measures to avoid infection, adding, they should wash hands often with soap and water, avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth as germs spread this way, and try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Jabbar also said that there is no harm in accepting the fact that most of the epidemics break out in the society due to poor cleanliness arrangements and lethargy on the part of the society to keep the environment clean, safe and healthy. He further added that seasonal flu is not as devastating as people assumed it, however, it can be overcome by taking proper care, preventive measures and keeping the environment clean in the household.
The provincial government and district health authority are monitoring the situation and the hospitals have been directed to make all arrangements to provide best possible treatment facilities to the patients, the official said.