ISLAMABAD – The National Institute of Health (NIH) on Monday confirmed that 85 positive cases of swine flu (H1N1 virus) have been reported throughout the country including 28 in the capital city.
A total of 125 samples were received by the institute out of which 85 were confirmed as H1N1 positive. They said that 28 cases were reported from Punjab, 28 from Federal Capital, 19 from Sindh and 10 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Dr Wasim Khawaja of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) told Pakistan Today that PIMS have received one H1N1 positive patient so far, whereas one is suspected patient and both of them hail from Islamabad.
He said that Swine flu was a communicable disease which spread through sputum, saliva, nasal discharge and sneezing of confirmed infected person, adding that the main symptoms of disease are headache, fever, soaring throat, troublesome breathing, cough and body ache, chill, fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhea and severe vomiting.
“One feeling such symptoms should immediately consult a doctor”, he advised.
Dr Sharif Astori, spokesperson Polyclinic hospital told this scribe that so far polyclinic has received one suspected case but the hospital is ready to tackle this issue.
According to an official in the ministry of health Swine flu units have been set up in two hospitals of the capital after confirmation of 28 Swine flu cases. Special steps are being taken to stop the disease from spreading, whereas medical experts say the disease is curable, adding, however, that measures will have to be taken to stop it from spreading.
The experts are of the view that there is a need for deploying health officials at international airports, seaports and border posts for screening of suspected travelers.
They also stressed the need to install thermal scanners at entry points to detect cases and ensure availability of swine flu pre-pandemic vaccine at hospitals. They said that like past practice, a circular should be issued to all educational institutions directing them to inform parents that children with flu like symptoms should not be sent to schools.
