Health dept gears up to tackle swine flu in winter

Health authorities are bracing up for a possible severe wave of H1N1 outbreak in winter after five people tested positive with swine flu in the last 24 hours. A World Health Organisation (WHO) report anticipates that a second wave of a more severe form of H1N1 is likely to hit the world. Respiratory problems will be more serious in this wave,states the report.

“All the past flu epidemics have shown a more severe trend in winter. The same can be said about swine flu. In fact,the first cases of the flu had been initially reported in those countries with lower temperatures and when winter was still on. We have already increased our preparations to deal with the disease and procured more Tamiflu doses from the Ministry of Health,” said UT swine flu nodal officer,H C Gera.

“As of now,we are following Central guidelines for treatment. All five latest cases have been quarantined at home. If there are revised guidelines from the ministry,we shall follow them,” said health officials.

Another suspected case
Samples of a 50-year-old Himachali woman and a 30-year-old man from Chandigarh were collected on suspicion of swine flu and sent to the PGI lab for testing. One of them tested negative on Monday.