Rumours, fear spreading faster than H1N1

The sudden rise in the number of H1N1 patients and four deaths caused due to the H1N1 virus during this week has led to fear among the general public with people flocking to hospitals even for common illnesses like fever and running nose.
“People are in panic and worried.  Patients suffering from ailments that could be even self-treated are rushing to clinics,” a medico at SKIMS said.
“Only patients are allowed to enter the ward and no one should accompany them to the doctor. Attendants please stand outside. This area could be infected with the virus,” the visibly agitated cop tells the crowd of patients and attendants. 100 plus patients had visited the Sarai until 11 in the morning. The number was reported to have reached 277 in the evening.
Pertinently, health officials in the state have advised the government to consider extension of the winter break in schools and asked public to avoid crowded places like religious gatherings. The virus may not have affected a large part of the population but the fear of H1N1 has definitely travelled faster than the pathogen itself.
Senior psychiatrist and Assistant Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr GA Wani said people have developed the fear because of the wide coverage of the influenza-related deaths in the print and electronic media.
“The news of deaths and increase in the number of patients testing positive for the H1N1 virus has certainly caused anxiety among people. People develop such fear in the aftermath of outbreak of a new disease. There is nothing to worry but public needs to take extra preventive measures,” Wani said while talking to us.
Reporters account
Anxiety is palpable among patients and attendants in the SKIMS as no face is bare. People have covered their faces with masks, mufflers and even hankies. Commotion has broken out at Sarai – the new place for diagnosis and collection of suspected H1N1 samples and the cop outside it is struggling to pacify the patients.
She is running hither and thither along with her two kids asking about the whereabouts of Sarai at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences. Sarai is the new sick bay for the diagnosis of H1NI in Srinagar.
Her daughter, suffering from common cold, has been keenly reading and watching reports about the breakout of swine flu in the Valley in recent days and has developed what shrinks may call paranoia about the disease. “She has been coughing since few days and asking me to take her to the doctor. I know it may be nothing serious but who can cure the doubt,” the mother says.
Health department may have got into a tizzy to generate awareness about the infectious pathogen but who can treat unfounded nervousness and doubt. Psychiatrists, perhaps! But they too are in shortage in Kashmir like the H1N1 drug and vaccines.