Swine flu in India [1], has so far claimed six lives. The latest casualties being a 35-year-old ayurvedic doctor died of swine flu in Pune, while a four-year-old boy lost his life due to this flu in Chennai this morning.
Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Cabinet Secretary K.M.Chandrashekhar and Health Secretary Naresh Dayal, met soon after two more deaths due to swine flu were reported in the country and discussed measures to contain the further spread of the disease.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had asked the Health Ministry on Sunday to co-ordinate with state governments and take adequate measures to contain further spread of the disease.
Azad said that Swine flu was a gift from travelers. There are 783 suspected cases of swine flu in the country and the Prime Ministers office is alert on the emerging situation.
PMO sources said the Prime Minister has told Azad to set up a panel of experts and doctors to spread correct information about the H1N1 virus and take steps to educate people about the disease.
Azad has advised state governments to set up separate sections in hospitals to treat patients suffering from this deadly disease.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also convened an emergency meeting in the Capital. Delhi and Maharashtra are the worst hit from swine flu outbreak so far.
The swine flu deaths have been on the rise across the country. In all there have been six deaths so far – three in Pune and one each in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Chennai.
- As per the press reports, the first victim of swine flu was 14 year-old Reeda Sheikh from Pune. Reeda’s family claims she was not treated properly and added that she was not even diagnosed accurately.
- India’s second swine flu victim was 53-year-old Fahmida Panwala from Mumbai. Fahmida came to the Kasturba hospital with a highly complicated case of diabetes and hypertension and died of acute respiratory disease.
- The third death was reported from Pune late Saturday night. A 42-year-old teacher Sanjay Kokare from Kedgaon was in a critical condition and had been on ventilator in the ICU.
- The fourth case was from Ahmedabad where a non-resident Indian Pravin Patel died of the flu on Sunday morning. The 43-year-old NRI had come to Ahmedabad with his wife on July 31. He had developed complications on August 5. He was shifted to civil hospital on August 8.
- The fifth casualty of swine flu death was Dr Babasaheb Mane, a 36-year-old ayurvedic doctor, who died at the Sassoon Hospital in Pune on Monday morning. He had acute respiratory distress syndrome with pneumonia with cardiac arrest. He was admitted to Sassoon on August 7. The doctor was from Verwada in Pune.
- In the latest and the sixth case of swine flu death, a 4-year-old child died in Chennai. The child was in hospital since last week. He was admitted to the hospital with diarrhoea, which in two days became multi organ failure.
Treatment of this virus is available but as of today, there is no preventive medicine for this virus. However, the following precautions are suggested :-
- Stay home whenever possible. Wash your hands often with medicated soap and water or use sanitizer as soon as you enter your house – this will kill most germs.
- Stay away from crowded places. Dont panic with mild cough or cold and rush to a crowded hospital for analysis. Consult your family doctor first.
- If you develop a fever consult your doctor immediately and start drinking plenty of fluids. Warm water is the best natural medicine for cough and cold. Stay well hydrated and get a check up and treatment for whatever is causing your fever.
- If you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief. or tissue.
- Avoid people who have a fever, cough, or sneezing, or complain of any flu-like symptoms
- Eat as many citrus fruits as you can. This will give you sustainable energy and immunity from a likely infection.
- Take a spoonful of chyawanprash with luke warm milk to supplement your fruit intake and give you the requisite resistance.
- Fresh lime is the best thing to give you immunity from infection and keeps you away from cough and cold as it is full of vitamin C.
- If you still need to supplement the above fruits, you can always take calcium tablets. The above is mainly meant to make you immune from any infection.
And if the problem persists, you should get a check up from the government hospital. Last but not the least – take care.
Ravi Matah