Swine Flu Kills Over Half A Dozen in India
Over half a dozen people have died in India with swine flu in the last one week. Newer cases are being reported by the hour even as a nation wide alert has been sounded. The Swine Influenza Virus (SIV) that was first reported in citizens returning from abroad has now spread in all parts of the country.
Cities that are worst hit are closing schools, shopping malls, theaters and other public places. Screening centers authorized for carrying out the H1N1 test are flooded with unwell people eager to get tested even as the Government struggles to keep panic at bay.
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The first H1N1 death in the country was reported in the beginning of this month from the central Indian city of Pune. Since then two more deaths have been reported from this city and all schools, public places have been closed and a warning has been issued against calling for any public gatherings. The city is under panic and medical stores here have run out of both face masks and flu medications. Other cities are facing a similar situation as the sale of masks remains at an all time high.
The Union Health Ministry has been issuing warnings and advisories from time to time which are being announced and circulated throughout the national media. Strict guidelines have been issues to hospitals and testing laboratories and private hospitals, which were initially not involved, are now being called in. The medicine against H1N1 has been taken out from the market and has been stocked by the Government.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has alerted that the total number of people in India who may get affected by swine flu are of the order of 33,0000000! The Government is trying its best to import medicines to tackle the flu as quickly as possible. Research Institutions are working round the clock to develop medicines and vaccines within the country.
With the festival season fast approaching in the country, further spread of the flu virus needs to be checked as soon as possible. Checking swine flu has thus become a greater challenge for the Government which is doing all that is in its capacity with an understanding that H1N1 is here to stay.
WHO - Swine Flu Patients Across the World
Image Source: Hindustan Times
