Doctors’ group sounds swine flu alert, says Kashmir not prepared
A doctors’ group in Kashmir on Saturday sounded swine flu alert and said the valley hospitals are not ready to deal with the virus.
The president of Doctors’ Association Kashmir (DAK) Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said that since December, last year, there are 30 Lab confirmed H1N1 cases including 06 deaths in Hyderabad and 16 new cases in Delhi with one death ‘which is alarming’.
“As H1N1 virus is already in our community after 2009 pandemic when we had 53 positive cases and 3 deaths, so there is a definite threat of swine flu outbreak in valley as well,” he said.
Nisar, who was the officer in-charge at swine flu centre at Sanat Nagar in year 2009, said valley hospitals are not prepared to combat swine flu and the two designated hospitals SKIMS and SMHS do not have the facility of negative pressure isolation wards for HINI patients.
“Tamiflu (Oseltamivir), the only drug used for treatment and prophylaxis of H1N1 is not stockpiled in the valley,” he said, adding: “There are no Swine flu vaccines available in the Kashmir which are to be given to high risk persons as the virus in them can be fatal.”
The DAK president told GNS over phone that high risk persons are those who are suffering from diabetes, chronic diseases. He said besides, the children below five years of age, pregnant women, persons above 60 years and those who have went through transplantation also fall in high risk.
“Persons with acute febrile respiratory illness should report to a doctor or a nearby medical facility and suspected cases should be tested and immediately quarantined,” he said.
The DAK president said the people should follow infection control measures like hand washing, respiratory etiquettes and use masks and stay away in case of symptoms to prevent and control the virus transmission.
Meanwhile, Director Health Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, said that there is no need to panic and they are ready to deal with the virus.
“We are capable enough and have good expertise. We have also good infrastructure in our hospitals,” he said.
The Director Health said H1N1 virus has become part of the society nowadays and is not threatening.
