Eight more cases of swine flu have been reported in the city in a week’s time, out of which one of the patient diagnosed happens to be a doctor working in the Osmania General hospital. The virus has been consistently floating around in the city this year, and till Saturday, the number of cases reported in the state is 162.
“The doctor who was diagnosed with the virus is an out-patient and is recovering well. There are no complications at all,” said Dr. Shubhakar Kandi, pulmonologist, Chest hospital. This year most of the patients diagnosed with the swine flu virus are out-patients. Till last week, only four people were taken as in-patients, due to their deteriorating health and 19 deaths have been reported so far.
Dr. Shubhakar explained that this is a normal occurrence, and since the city hospitals are equipped with machines to analyse and test each patient, the numbers are going up. “This is not an epidemic. In some of the districts, hospitals do not have the required machines to test patients, and hence no cases are reported. Here, we are testing each patient who comes with a fever or any other ailment,” he said.
The pulmonologist pointed out that it is the same scene each year, unlike few years ago when there was an epidemic. “Then we used to get 90-100 patients a day. Now, we get at most two. On Saturday, no cases were reported at all,” he said. Dr. Kandi also pointed out that the city doctors have been closely following the virus, to be able to provide treatment as early as possible.
The doctor completely ruled out the possibility of a public health hazard, and said that this occurrence is not a matter to panic about. “It is just few people who are affected with the virus, but one needs to be careful as it is highly communicable,” he added.
He advised people to be hygienic and take care of their health all year round. Apart from the swine flu, viral infections are compelling people to flock hospitals this year. In August alone, more than 19000 out-patient were treated for fever.