After Maharashtra government shut down theatres and schools in Pune and Mumbai to curtail the spread of the swine flu virus, some people have already stopped visiting the public places in the city in the wake of swine flu threat.

The sceptics are confining their outdoor visits to a limited public places saying the more one goes out, the more the chances of getting the deadly flu.

A girl skeptical about venturing out said she was afraid of the virus lest she falls prey to the flu and was therefore limiting her outings to a fewer public places, which are not frequented by upper class visitors from other places or countries.

The health department has however, asked the residents to not panic as the state was so far one of the safest in the country as far as swine flu is concerned.

The Civil Surgeon, Dr Maninderjit Singh appealed to the people today asking them to go on with their daily routine without any fear and take precautions if one gets flu symptoms after having been in contact with an infected person or has returned from swine flu-hit state or country.

"I am ready to go anywhere in the city with a person who feels scared. I appeal to people to stay informed but not give in to panic," the Civil Surgeon said.

There have been 25 confirmed cases in the state till date, most of them from Jalandhar, and all of them have been treated. Dr Deepak Bhatia, nodal officer for swine flu control in the state, said no fresh case has been identified in the state and the situation in the region was well under control.

... contd.